Barcelona fear Lamine Yamal may miss out as Ballon dOr winner

Barcelona believe Harry Kane is the leading contender to win the Ballon d’Or, despite their young forward Lamine Yamal being among the nominees for football’s most prestigious individual award.

According to Cadena SER, there is a feeling within the club that Kane is most likely to claim the prize. However, the final decision has not yet been confirmed and the identity of the winner remains unknown until the official announcement.

Barcelona’s view does not mean Yamal has been ruled out. The club’s internal impression is not confirmation of the voting result, with the outcome still to be revealed at Monday’s ceremony in London.

The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, 26 October 2026, at the London Palladium. It is the first time the event has been staged in London and coincides with the 70th anniversary of the award’s launch in 1956.

Three leading contenders

The men’s shortlist is chiefly focused on Yamal, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe.

Kane has entered the contest after a prolific campaign and a series of domestic honours with Bayern Munich. Yamal’s case is based on his influence for Barcelona and Spain, while Mbappe has produced impressive scoring figures despite ending his season with Real Madrid without any trophies.

The award carries particular significance for Yamal after he finished runner-up in the previous edition. He was beaten by France international Ousmane Dembele, who won the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Yamal is also seeking to become the youngest player ever to win the award. Kane, meanwhile, would become the first Englishman to receive it since Michael Owen in 2001.

The ceremony is being held against a backdrop of strong anticipation at Barcelona, where Yamal’s candidacy had raised hopes that he could secure the prize after his second-place finish last year. Those hopes remain alive, although the club’s expectation that Kane is ahead in the race has added uncertainty before the announcement.

The listed upcoming La Liga fixtures show Barcelona playing Deportivo Alaves on 31 October 2026. Racing Santander are scheduled to face Real Madrid in La Liga on 1 November 2026.