Spain manager Luis de la Fuente has urged Lamine Yamal to remain calm after the Barcelona forward finished outside the top two in the 2026 Ballon d’Or voting.
Yamal, 19, ended the race in third place, behind winner Kylian Mbappé and runner-up Harry Kane. De la Fuente said he expects the young winger to collect the game’s leading individual honour on multiple occasions in the future.
Quick facts
- Lamine Yamal finished third in the 2026 Ballon d’Or standings.
- Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane ranked ahead of the Barcelona player.
- Spain coach Luis de la Fuente believes Yamal will win several Ballon d’Or awards.
- De la Fuente received the Men’s Coach of the Year prize after Spain won the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking after Monday night’s awards ceremony at the London Palladium, De la Fuente said Yamal had no reason to worry about missing out this time.
“Lamine will win many Ballon d’Ors,” De la Fuente said. “He should be relaxed because we know who he is and the potential he has.”
De la Fuente also left the event with the Men’s Coach of the Year award, recognition that followed his leadership of Spain’s victorious 2026 World Cup campaign.
