Barcelona forward, Lamine Yamal, has made history on Tuesday by becoming the first player to receive a Ballon d’Or nomination three times before reaching the age of 20.
The 19-year-old secured second place last year, trailing PSG’s Ousmane Dembele in the final Ballon d’Or declaration.
Yamal had an outstanding season with both his club and national team, Spain.
Yamal scored 24 goals and provided 15 assists in 45 matches across various competitions for Barcelona, contributing significantly to Hansi Flick’s squad as they successfully retained their La Liga and Supercopa de Espana titles.
The Barcelona forward also played a pivotal role in Spain’s triumphant journey at the 2026 FIFA World Cup held in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Throughout eight matches, Yamal scored once and assisted another goal, helping La Roja clinch their second World Cup title by defeating the ten-man defending champions Argentina in the final held in New Jersey in July.
In light of his remarkable achievements for both club and country, Yamal has received a nomination for this year’s prestigious Ballon d’Or.
According to media figure Reshad Rahman, Yamal is the first teenager to be nominated for this award three times before turning 20.
In 2024, Yamal ranked eighth in the Ballon d’Or standings, having played a crucial role in Spain’s victory at the 2024 European Championships. The following year, he improved his position, finishing just behind PSG’s treble-winning winger Dembele.
Ballon d’Or 2026: Lamine Yamal makes history after nomination