The hopes of France captain, Kylian Mbappe, winning the 2026 Ballon d’Or took a big dent on Tuesday night, after they lost 2-0 to Spain in the semi-final of the World Cup.
On the other hand, Lamine Yamal boosted his chances of finishing on the podium, as he helped his team qualify for the final.
It was Yamal who won the penalty that Mikel Oyarzabal converted in the 22nd minute to give La Roja the lead.
Pedro Porro sealed the win with a fine finish after the break.
Mbappe, who has scored eight times at the tournament, could yet finish with the Golden Boot, as he is likely to feature in the third-place play-off.
But Yamal will be in contention for the bigger prizes, including the Ballon d’Or, whose voting would be influenced by success in major international tournaments.
Spain will now face either Argentina or England in the final, where Yamal will be looking to inspire the European champions again.
Ballon d’Or 2026 ranking: Mbappe’s hopes fade as Yamal shines in World Cup semi-final
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