Ballon d’Or: Lamine Yamal strongly criticised!

The SER journalist criticises the importance Yamal attaches to the award and urges him to refocus on the pitch

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Ballon d’Or: Lamine Yamal strongly criticised!

Marcos López criticises Lamine Yamal’s pursuit of the Ballon d’Or and calls on Barça to support him in turning his disappointment into sporting motivation.

Lamine Yamal’s ambition is being debated in Spain after the 2026 Ballon d’Or. On Cadena SER’s El Larguero programme, Marcos López reproached the FC Barcelona player for attaching excessive importance to the individual award in recent weeks.

An “obsession” highlighted by Marcos López

“He was clearly obsessed with the idea of winning the Ballon d’Or,” the journalist said, in comments translated from Spanish. He compared this expectation with Kylian Mbappé’s and considers that the trophy had become a central issue for both players.

For López, the answer must now come through performances. He believes that leading Barcelona to victory in the Champions League would be the most direct route to a future individual triumph.

🚨🗣️ 𝗡𝗘𝗪: Marcos López (SER) has CRITICISED Lamine Yamal's obsession with winning the Ballon d'Or and FEARS this could turn into another Vinicius case! 😳 “It's clear that Lamine was OBSESSED with winning the Ballon d'Or, just like Mbappé. He made it a central issue in recent weeks.” “I saw certain behaviours BEFORE, DURING and AFTER the Ballon d'Or ceremony that I DID NOT LIKE. It's normal to desperately want an award, but behaving in a way that is completely unconvincing is unacceptable.” “Winning the Champions League with Barcelona would be the SHORTEST ROUTE to the Ballon d'Or.” “Barcelona must convince Lamine that his moment will come and that he needs to keep fighting, so his situation doesn't turn into ANOTHER VINÍCIUS CASE.”
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) October 29, 2026

The Vinicius precedent at the heart of the debate

Marcos López also urges Yamal to look at Vinicius’s precedent, after he finished second behind Rodri in 2024. In his view, the Real Madrid forward illustrates the risks of failing to process disappointment properly.

In the same debate, Antonio Romero emphasises the role of the player’s entourage and the club in encouraging him to keep fighting.

Third in 2026, second in 2025 and a three-time Kopa winner

At 19, Yamal has just finished third in the 2026 Ballon d’Or, behind Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé. He had already made the podium in 2025, when he finished second behind Ousmane Dembélé.

The Barcelona player also won his third consecutive Kopa Trophy, after his successes in 2024 and 2025. He became the first player to win this award, dedicated to players under 21, three times in a row.

His latest season was marked by 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 appearances for Barça, according to the figures published by the club. Those numbers provide a concrete foundation for his ambitions, despite the criticism over the importance attached to the Ballon d’Or.

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