Barcelona forward Raphinha believes Lamine Yamal has every quality required to win the Ballon d’Or as the teenager prepares to discover whether he will claim football’s most prestigious individual award.
Yamal scored 24 goals and provided 18 assists during the 2025/26 campaign, helping Barca win La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup before leading Spain to the World Cup title.
The 19-year-old is competing against some of the leading players in world football, including Kylian Mbappe, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia and favourite Harry Kane.
Yamal said earlier this month that he believed he had produced an “incredible” season for Barcelona and Spain and had a strong chance of winning the award. However, he acknowledged that the final decision would be made by the voters.
Raphinha, who has played alongside Yamal at Barcelona, is convinced his team-mate’s performances make him a serious contender.
“Without a doubt, yes,” Raphinha said when asked whether Yamal should win the Ballon d’Or.
“I think winning the Ballon d’Or depends on individual statistics, team honours and the magic you bring to the pitch. Charisma and all that. Those are the most important factors, and Lamine has it all,” he added.
Raphinha said Yamal’s record extended beyond the campaign just finished and pointed to the youngster’s strong start to the current season.
“Lamine has spectacular statistics, not just this past season, but the one before that as well. He’s made a spectacular start to this one,” he said.
“(Yamal) has won two out of three titles with Barca and the World Cup with his national team.”
Raphinha also stressed that his opinion was based on Yamal’s achievements rather than their relationship as club team-mates.
“Even if I wasn’t Lamine’s teammate, given what he does on the pitch, his statistics, the titles he’s won... titles are very important,” he continued.
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place at the London Palladium in just over one month, when the leading footballers from across the world will gather for the event.
Yamal will then learn whether he has become the first Barcelona player since Lionel Messi to win the award.