De la Fuente tells Yamal: 'Rest easy, you'll win many Ballon d'Ors'
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente told 19-year-old Lamine Yamal to 'rest easy' after the Barcelona winger finished third in the 2026 Ballon d'Or voting behind winner Kylian Mbappé and runner-up Harry Kane. The ceremony held Monday night at London's Palladium.
De la Fuente, who guided Spain to 2026 World Cup glory, also claimed the Men's Coach of the Year award. Speaking to Sportskeeda, he backed Yamal's trajectory: 'Lamine is going to win many Ballon d'Ors. He should rest easy, because we know who he is and the potential he possesses.'
Yamal's third-place finish at 19 signals arrival among football's elite—only Mbappé and Kane, both established superstars, ranked higher. The Barcelona academy product has already won Euro 2024 with Spain and continues breaking age records in La Liga.
De la Fuente's dual recognition (Coach of the Year + World Cup winner) cements Spain's return to global dominance. For Nigerian fans tracking the next generation, Yamal's trajectory mirrors the early paths of Messi and Ronaldo—teenage recognition preceding sustained excellence.
Is Yamal's third-place finish at 19 a preview of Spanish dominance for the next decade, or will Mbappé and Kane maintain their grip on football's top individual prize?