Lamine Yamal turns Ballon d’Or campaign into a triumph at Wembley
Saturday evening, under the lights of the legendary Wembley, the 19‑year‑old winger Lamine Yamal led Spain to a 3‑2 victory over the Three Lions, delivering a spectacle that comes 48 hours before the final Ballon d’Or 2026 vote in London.
A lightning performance at Wembley
In just one hundred and four seconds, Yamal recovered the ball from Marc Guéhi before passing it to James Trafford, demonstrating a rare technical audacity for his age. This flash moment was achieved in one hundred and four seconds, a record time for such an impact.
This move made him the youngest player to score against England at Wembley, shattering the record set by Patrick Kluivert during Euro 1996. The previous record held by Kluivert since 1996 was 22 years, a benchmark now broken.
During this match, he registered seven shots, created four chances, delivered sixteen key passes in the opponent’s final third. He also completed twenty‑six dribbles and made six tackles, an impressive statistical picture.
These performances bring his season tally to nine goals and six assists in just nine matches, across all competitions. These numbers confirm his effectiveness both at club level and internationally.
Unanimous support around his candidacy
Meanwhile, his main rival Harry Kane saw his penalty skim the crossbar, while Kylian Mbappé suffered a knee injury during a training session in Turkey, reinforcing the perception of Yamal as the undisputed favourite.
Alex Baena, teammate in the national team, posted on social media: “Lamine elevated every ball he touched.” This reaction quickly spread across the networks, amplifying the visibility of his campaign.
João Félix, now at Al‑Nassr, said to the press: “If a player makes you glued to your screen, it’s definitely Lamine. Mbappé and Kane have achieved great things, but Lamine is football in its purest form.” The journalist highlighted that these remarks reinforced the idea of an already recognised prodigy.
At FC Barcelona, the support is unanimous: Rodri, the best player of the last World Cup, stated that the club had chosen to back Lamine as the most deserving, and Raphinha called him a huge favourite, highlighting his titles in La Liga and at the World Cup. The club’s message was relayed throughout all levels of the institution, from staff to the youth teams.
In an interview given to L’Équipe, Yamal retorted: “Some think I’m only 19, that I’ll win later, but I’ve been playing at this level for over a year. I just have to keep winning, and there will come a time when there will be no debate at all.” He emphasized the need to persevere and let performances speak for themselves.
With less than two days before the Ballon d’Or vote, Yamal’s campaign in London, where the ceremony will take place on October 26, seems to turn the question of the best player into an obvious answer, combining pure talent, decisive impact and widespread support. Thus, the Ballon d’Or question is settled even before the official tally.