Barcelona captain Raphinha has given his full support to teammate Lamine Yamal in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, pointing to the Spanish star’s individual production, trophies and influence for club and country.
Speaking to The Guardian and La Gazzetta dello Sport, Raphinha made it clear that he considers Yamal the leading candidate for the award. The Brazilian explained that his opinion would remain the same even if the two were not teammates at Barcelona.
Raphinha believes the Ballon d’Or should reward a combination of individual numbers, collective achievements, creativity and charisma. In his view, Yamal meets every one of those requirements.
The 19-year-old played a major role in another successful season for Barcelona, helping the club retain its La Liga title while being named the competition’s Player of the Season. He recorded 16 goals and 11 assists in the league.
Yamal’s case was strengthened further on the international stage. He helped Spain win the 2026 World Cup, adding the biggest international trophy to his résumé and establishing himself as one of his country’s most influential attacking players.
Raphinha highlighted Yamal’s importance to both Barcelona and Spain when explaining his support. He also emphasized that Yamal’s impact extends beyond conventional statistics because of his ability to create, entertain and influence matches with the ball.
Yamal himself has also spoken about the award. In an interview with L’Équipe, he argued that the Ballon d’Or should recognize the player who stands apart through his style and ability to make people want to watch him play, rather than simply rewarding goals. He acknowledged that winning the World Cup gives him an additional argument in this year’s race.
The Barcelona winger finished second behind Ousmane Dembélé in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting. This year, he is among the 30 nominees, while Raphinha was left off the shortlist.
Voting for the 2026 Ballon d’Or closes on September 28. The award ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London.
