Deco names Lamine Yamal favourite for 2026 Ballon d’Or after World Cup win

Barcelona sporting director Deco said Lamine Yamal should be the favourite to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, calling the 19‑year‑old decisive for both club and country. Speaking to RAC1, Deco pointed to Yamal’s LaLiga and Copa del Rey triumphs with Barcelona last season and his role in Spain’s 2026 World Cup victory in North America. Yamal has already been named among the 30‑man nominees for the award.

For Nigerian football fans, Yamal’s rapid rise highlights how teenage talent can break onto the world stage, offering a model for aspiring players back home. His mixed Moroccan‑Equatorial Guinean heritage also shows that African‑linked players are shaping Europe’s elite clubs.

Deco’s endorsement adds weight to the growing debate over who deserves football’s top individual honour, especially after a season where Yamal contributed goals and assists in crucial matches. The Ballon d’Or ceremony later this year will weigh his youth and achievements against more experienced contenders.

Do you think Yamal’s age and impact make him a worthy Ballon d’Or candidate, or should experience weigh more heavily in the voting?

SOURCE: https://dailypost.ng/2026/09/10/2026-ballon-dor-hes-favourite-deco-names-player-to-win-award/