The 19-year-old winger also identified himself and France captain Kylian Mbappe as the two best players in the world, insisting that his impressive performances and trophy haul have strengthened his claim to the prestigious individual award.

“For me, Mbappe and me, we’re the two best players in the world,” Yamal said in an interview with Movistar Plus, excerpts of which were published on Sunday.

He added: “I honestly think that, as the best in the world, maybe there are two of us, and this year I would deserve it because of what I’ve won.”

Yamal played a key role as Barcelona retained the La Liga title before helping Spain win the World Cup this summer, further boosting his credentials for the award.

The teenager had previously adopted a more cautious approach when discussing his Ballon d’Or chances during a press conference last Tuesday. At the time, he acknowledged that he had enjoyed an “incredible” season and believed he had a realistic chance of winning, but stressed that he would not campaign or beg for votes.

Yamal’s latest comments came after another impressive performance for Barcelona, with the youngster scoring from the penalty spot in the club’s La Liga encounter against Levante at the Ciutat de Valencia Stadium on September 13, 2026.

Meanwhile, Mbappe has also strengthened his case for the Ballon d’Or in recent weeks. The Real Madrid forward finished as the leading scorer in La Liga, the Champions League and the World Cup. However, his individual achievements came despite Real Madrid failing to secure a major trophy.

Yamal’s Barcelona and Spain teammate Ousmane Dembele, who won last year’s Ballon d’Or, has backed another Paris Saint-Germain player to claim the prize this year. Dembele believes the award should remain in the hands of a PSG player following the French club’s successful defence of the Champions League title.

Bayern Munich striker and England international Harry Kane is also regarded as one of the leading contenders for the prestigious award.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or winner is expected to be announced at a ceremony in London on October 26, with Yamal, Mbappe, Kane and other leading stars in contention for football’s most coveted individual honour.