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Lamine Yamal gains attention in Ballon d’Or race against Mbappe

Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Sep 16, 2026, 6:40 AM

Last updated Sep 16, 2026

Lamine Yamal gains attention in Ballon d’Or race against Mbappe

Summary

French journalist Walid Acherchour claims Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is strategically framing the 2026 Ballon d'Or discussion as a competition against Kylian Mbappe. Yamal has made a strong season start, tallying seven goals and two assists in six matches. Barcelona is openly backing his candidacy, with support from club president Joan Laporta and coach Hansi Flick. Acherchour argues that Yamal's approach seeks to minimize the competition from other candidates like Ousmane Dembele and Harry Kane while leveraging his outstanding performances and Barcelona's success into his Ballon d'Or campaign.

Source Links

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By the Numbers

•Lamine Yamal has seven goals and two assists in six games this season.
•Walid Acherchour believes Yamal is focusing the Ballon d’Or debate on himself and Mbappe.
•Barcelona has begun building public support for Yamal's Ballon d'Or candidacy.
•Yamal's performances are central to sustaining his candidacy in the award race.
•Acherchour argues that Yamal wants to minimize the impact of other contenders.

Latest Updates

6:40 AMYahoo Sports — French journalist accuses Lamine Yamal of using ‘clever’ strategy in Ballon d’Or push: ‘He has understood everything’

What they're saying

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French football journalist Walid Acherchour believes Barcelona star forward Lamine Yamal is deliberately influencing the Ballon d’Or conversation by turning it into a direct contest with Kylian Mbap...
— Yahoo Sports

Related Teams & Leagues

Barcelona Paris Saint-Germain LaLiga Soccer