Laporta Backs Yamal to Win Ballon d'Or After Third Nomination

Barcelona president Joan Laporta has thrown his weight behind Lamine Yamal's bid for the Ballon d'Or, saying the young forward has fully earned his spot among this year's 30 nominees and that he would love to see him take home the award.

This marks the third time Yamal has been nominated for football's top individual prize, coming off another strong season. He finished the 2025/26 campaign with 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 games, helping Barcelona win both La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup.

His impact did not stop there. Yamal also played a big role for Spain as the country lifted the 2026 World Cup over the summer.

Last year, he came second in the Ballon d'Or race behind Ousmane Dembele, and Laporta thinks this year's nomination shows just how far he has come since then.

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Speaking publicly in comments relayed by Jijantes, Laporta praised both Yamal's talent and his character.

"He's a very mature young man and a brilliant player. As far as I'm concerned, he's a genius. His comments are exceptional, too," Laporta said. "I think you're all enjoying him immensely, and you should enjoy him even more, because Lamine is a versatile player who's very comfortable in situations like this. I think he fully deserves to be nominated, and to be honest, I'd be absolutely delighted if he won it."

Joan Laporta and Lamine Yamal

Laporta made a point of saying his support goes beyond simple club loyalty, though he did admit he would be happy to see any Barcelona player, man or woman, take the award home.

"As I've told you, I'd be delighted if any Barcelona player, man or woman, won the Ballon d'Or, but especially Lamine, because he's a nominee and one of the leading contenders," he said.

Yamal's case is backed up by the numbers. His 42 combined goals and assists for Barcelona, paired with his part in Spain's World Cup win, make for a strong résumé in a season where he has continued to establish himself as one of the most important young players in the game.

Laporta closed with a simple, direct message about what he is hoping for when the winner is announced.

"I really hope Lamine wins the Ballon d'Or."