Lamine Yamal compares himself to Messi and Ronaldinho in Ballon d'Or pitch

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has shared his perspective on what the Ballon d'Or should represent. The young star believes the prestigious award should not be defined merely by statistics like goals or assists, but rather by a player's ability to make a genuine difference on the pitch.

I think the Ballon d'Or is an award for the best player of the year, the one who is different, the one you enjoy watching, someone for whom people watch a match. It doesn't have to do with goals or anything else. When I think of the Ballon d'Or, I think of Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and players like that who are different. Lamine Yamal

Yamal explained that his own approach to the game—playing with freedom and enjoyment—serves as his primary argument for the award. While he acknowledged his success with Barcelona and the Spanish national team, he insisted that his unique impact on the pitch is his strongest case for recognition.

The forward's statistics are nonetheless impressive. In his first eight matches of the current season, Yamal has registered eight goals and six assists. During the previous campaign, he featured in 45 matches for the club, contributing 24 goals and 18 assists.

The Ballon d'Or ceremony is scheduled for Monday, October 26, in London, where the winner of the 2026 edition will be revealed.