Lamine Yamal says Ballon d’Or success will come ‘in my time’

Lamine Yamal has responded to missing out on the Ballon d’Or by insisting that winning the award is a matter of time, while reaffirming his belief in the path he is taking with Barcelona.

The 19-year-old posted a message on Instagram the day after the ceremony, where Harry Kane was named the winner.

“Everything will come in its time, because good things take time,” Yamal wrote. “I trust the path I am building. Without rushing, with enthusiasm, and with a calmness that comes from believing my moment will come one day.”

The Barcelona forward also congratulated the award winners and said his attention had already returned to the club’s immediate priorities.

“Congratulations to the winners,” he added. “My focus now returns to what is important, which is getting Barcelona back on the road to winning.”

Yamal’s Ballon d’Or record

Yamal won the world’s best young player award for a third consecutive year, but his ambitions extended beyond that prize to the Ballon d’Or itself.

He had believed winning the World Cup would give him a genuine opportunity to claim the game’s most prestigious individual honour.

The player appeared visibly disappointed when Kane’s name was announced, but his message the following day reflected his determination to continue working and wait for his next opportunity.

Yamal has already established a strong record in the Ballon d’Or voting. He finished runner-up in the previous edition, behind Ousmane Dembele, before placing third in the latest ranking.

Barcelona’s La Liga schedule lists a meeting with Deportivo Alaves on 31 October 2026 as the club’s next fixture mentioned in the published listing.

Support from team-mates and partner

Yamal’s post prompted messages of support from current and former team-mates, who encouraged him after he missed out on the main award.

Fermin Lopez wrote: “It will come, and it will come more than once. I am always with you.”

Inigo Martinez also offered support, saying: “There are talents that do not need awards to prove their value.”

Yamal’s partner, Ines Garcia, posted a longer message praising his work and ambition.

“Work is always rewarded in the end,” she wrote. “Your effort and ambition go hand in hand every day. We trust you and believe in you completely. You are the best and the whole world will realise that in the end. I love you, my life, and I will always remain by your side with all my strength.”