Yamal finishes 3rd at Ballon d'Or 2026, says "my time will come"
Barcelona's 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal finished third behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappé at Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in London. The Spain international posted on Instagram: "It will come; good things take time. I trust the path I am building. My time will come," while congratulating Kane on the victory.
Despite missing the top prize, Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy for best under-21 player and added it to his 2026 World Cup and LaLiga titles from last season. Kane, England's captain, secured his first Ballon d'Or after a prolific season with Bayern Munich, while France's Mbappé placed second.
For Nigerian football fans tracking the next generation of global stars, Yamal's composure at 19—already a World Cup and European champion—signals a career trajectory that could dominate the award for years. The question isn't if he'll win, but how many.
Will Yamal's patience pay off with multiple Ballon d'Ors, or does Kane's late-career peak shift the timeline?