Lamine Yamal Eyes 2026 World Cup Debut After Finishing 2nd in Ballon d'Or Voting at 18
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 14
Lamine Yamal Eyes 2026 World Cup Debut After Finishing 2nd in Ballon d'Or Voting at 18
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Jun 14
Summary
18-year-old Lamine Yamal said he is eager for his first World Cup in 2026, with the Barcelona winger calling Spain a serious contender again and saying he has high expectations.
Second place in last year's Ballon d'Or voting has cemented Yamal's global rise, an unusually early milestone for a teenager in a sport where Ronaldo remains the youngest winner at 21.
Barcelona identified Yamal's talent at age 6, and Spanish journalist Guillem Balagué said Messi comparisons are inevitable but still premature despite Yamal looking like the standout of his generation.
Rocafonda's '304' and the flags of Morocco and Equatorial Guinea on his boots reflect the identity Balagué called 'the face of the new Spain' as Yamal also says he wants to be seen as sincere and genuine.