“My moment will come!” Lamine Yamal breaks silence after Ballon d'Or disappointment
Lamine Yamal has finally spoken out after missing out on the 2026 Ballon d'Or, making it clear that his dream of winning football's biggest individual prize is far from over.
Details: The 19-year-old Barcelona winger shared a heartfelt message on Instagram following Monday's Ballon d'Or ceremony in London. Yamal finished third in the voting, behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappé. Despite the disappointment, the Spanish sensation congratulated the winners and expressed confidence that his own moment will eventually arrive.
“It’ll come. Good things take time, and I trust the path I’m building. There’s no rush. I’m full of hope and confidence that one day my moment will come. Congratulations to the winners. My focus now returns to what really matters: helping Barcelona win again”, Yamal wrote.
The message came less than 24 hours after the ceremony, where the Barcelona youngster was once again among the leading contenders for the prestigious award. In 2025, Yamal finished second behind Ousmane Dembélé, while this year's voting placed him third.
It is worth noting that Yamal did not leave the ceremony empty-handed. The Spanish winger won the Men's Young Talent of the Year award for the third consecutive time, having previously claimed the honour in 2024 and 2025.
Reminder: Scandal! Yamal's uncle loses it after the Ballon d'Or verdict
Steven Perez
Dailysports's expert
