Ballon d’Or 2026: Lamine Yamal’s dad slams Spain over Mbappé
Yamal’s Father Critiques Ballon d’Or Voting Process Following Award Ceremony
Mounir Nasraoui, the father of Barcelona player Lamine Yamal, has publicly criticized the voting process for the Ballon d’Or, suggesting that the influence of Real Madrid played a significant role in his son’s third-place finish in the 2026 rankings.
Yamal secured third place with 881 points, trailing Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane, who won the award with 1,055 points, and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, who finished second with 1,027 points. Kane’s outstanding season, which included 73 goals in 65 appearances for both Bayern Munich and the England national team, marked him as the first English winner since Michael Owen in 2001.
The awards ceremony took place at the London Palladium on October 26. This marks Yamal’s second consecutive year of missing out on the top prize; he finished behind Ousmane Dembélé in the previous year’s voting.
In his remarks, Nasraoui expressed the belief that Mbappé benefited from his association with Real Madrid, suggesting that Spanish voters favored him because of club loyalties. He voiced a desire to address the voters directly, stating on journalist Jota Jordi’s YouTube channel, “I wish one day to see on screen one of those who voted for Mbappé, and I would like to speak with him, and you too, my friend, one of Mbappé’s fans.”
Nasraoui argued that the Ballon d’Or should honor the best player based on individual merit rather than team affiliation. “This thing only happens here in Spain. If the best player in the world plays for Real Madrid, then vote for the national team!” he asserted.
In contrast, Lamine Yamal responded to his third-place finish with a more measured tone. The 19-year-old forward conveyed confidence in his future prospects for winning the esteemed award. The day after the ceremony, he took to Instagram to reflect on the outcome and celebrate receiving his third consecutive Kopa Trophy, which honors the best young player in the world.
During the ceremony, Yamal suggested that the award should have gone to his Barcelona teammate, Pau Cubarsí. In his social media post, he extended congratulations to the winners and emphasized that great achievements take time, expressing optimism about claiming the Ballon d’Or in the future. He also reaffirmed his commitment to helping Barcelona return to winning form.
