Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has declared that no player performed better than Lionel Messi at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while thanking the Argentine legend for calling and offering him support after a “difficult night”. Yamal made the remarks in separate Facebook posts on Tuesday, expressing admiration for Messi’s World Cup performance and appreciation for
England captain Harry Kane is the favourite to win a wide open race to be crowned Ballon d’Or winner at a glitzy London ceremony on Monday, with Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe also in the running to be named the world’s best footballer. Her former club team-mate, Poland’s Ewa Pajor is the main challenger to Putellas after she netted 11 Champions League goals in Barca’s latest triumph.
England captain Harry Kane is the favourite to win a wide open race to be crowned Ballon d’Or winner at a glitzy London ceremony on Monday, with Lamine Yamal and Kylian Mbappe also in the running to be named the world’s best footballer. Her former club team-mate, Poland’s Ewa Pajor is the main challenger to Putellas after she netted 11 Champions League goals in Barca’s latest triumph.
Lamine Yamal Wins Young Talent Award. Spain and Barcelona winger, Lamine Yamal, has won the Men’s Young Talent of the Year at the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London.
England captain Harry Kane and Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal are among the leading contenders for the men’s award. Kane is seeking to become the first Englishman to win the men’s Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001, while Yamal is hoping to claim the prestigious individual honour after another notable campaign with Barcelona.
Luis de la Fuente won the Ballon d’Or for men’s coach of the year on Monday after leading Spain to World Cup glory. In a tight final against Lionel Messi’s Argentina in New Jersey, de la Fuente’s men kept their cool in the face of muscular tactics from the opposition and Ferran Torres smashed in the winning goal for a 1-0 victory.
Harry Kane made history on Monday night in London when became the first English man to win the Ballon D’or in 25 years, after being crowned the best men’s player 2026. This is only the fifth time in the past 20 years that the Ballon d’Or has not gone to a player who has won either the World Cup, the Champions League or a European Championship/Copa America – with Kane joining Lionel Messi (three times) and Cristiano Ronaldo.