Catalan media back Lamine Yamal for Ballon d'Or

Catalan media have begun a clear push for Lamine Yamal to be recognised in this year's Ballon d'Or vote, with the Barcelona winger placed firmly among the leading names after Spain's world title.

The discussion has gathered pace in the aftermath of Spain's gold-medal success at the World Cup. Even though Yamal was not considered as dazzling at the tournament as he had been at Euro 2024, the case being made in Barcelona is that his wider body of work still leaves him in contention for football's biggest individual prize.

Catalan press makes the argument

One of the strongest endorsements has come from the Catalan daily Sport, which presented Yamal as a player launching a serious bid for the award. The paper's argument is not built solely on his World Cup displays, where he scored one goal, but on the broader weight of his season and the possibility of a landmark achievement.

If he were to win, Yamal would become the youngest Ballon d'Or winner in history. That prospect has become a central part of the narrative around his candidacy, especially given how close he came in the previous vote, when he finished second behind Ousmane Dembele.

The same argument also points to the strength of his honours list this year, with Spain's world title and another league title cited as major factors in his favour.

Not a unanimous race

Another Catalan newspaper, Mundo Deportivo, has also weighed in by asking why Yamal should not be considered a genuine contender. Its view is that this year's Ballon d'Or race is far from settled, with no overwhelming favourite emerging at this stage.

That uncertainty is reflected in the range of names being discussed around the award. According to the source material, some bookmakers favour Leo Messi, others point to Harry Kane, while Yamal is regularly mentioned alongside a wider group of candidates.

• Lamine Yamal
• Leo Messi
• Harry Kane
• Kylian Mbappe
• Michael Olise
• Ousmane Dembele
• Khvicha Kvaratskhelia

World Cup glow, but more to come

What makes the debate interesting is that Yamal's candidacy is being advanced despite a tournament that, by the standards he set at Euro 2024, was not viewed as his most spectacular. That has not stopped the momentum behind him, particularly in Catalonia, where the sense is that his influence across the year should carry significant weight with voters.

There is still time for the picture to change before the final decision is made. The Ballon d'Or winner will be announced on 26 October, leaving the leading contenders with further opportunities to shape opinion before voting is settled.

For now, the message from the Catalan press is unmistakable: Yamal is not merely part of the conversation, but a candidate they believe should be taken very seriously.