Awards
Yamal responds to Ballon d'Or third place: 'My moment will come'
The 19-year-old Barcelona winger posted a message on Instagram after finishing behind Harry Kane and Kylian Mbappé in the 2026 vote.
FootVal Newsroom
Lamine Yamal has broken his silence following his third-place finish at the 2026 Ballon d'Or, posting a message on Instagram in which he expressed confidence that he will one day win football's most prestigious individual award.
"Good things take time. I trust the path I am building. No rush, but with desire," Yamal wrote, according to reports from L'Équipe and RMC Sport. The Barcelona forward finished behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappé in the final standings.
It was also the third successive year Yamal claimed the Kopa Trophy for best young player. FootVal's valuation of the 19-year-old stands at €235m — slightly above his €220m Transfermarkt market value — and this season he has registered 8 goals and 6 assists in 10 appearances, with an average rating of 8.18.
Yamal's reaction suggests the Barcelona winger has taken the result in his stride, with widespread expectation across European football that he remains the most likely future winner of the award.
Sources
This article is based on reports by:
- L'Équipe — Lamine Yamal réagit à sa troisième place au Ballon d'Or 2026 : « Tôt ou tard, mon heure viendra »
- ge — Lamine Yamal diz não ter pressa para ganhar a Bola de Ouro: "Chegará meu momento"
- RMC Sport — "Mon heure viendra": Lamine Yamal sort du silence après sa 3e place au Ballon d'or 2026
- Maisfutebol — Lamine Yamal reage à Bola de Ouro: «Ela vai chegar...»
Written by the FootVal newsroom from the reports below, with figures from FootVal’s own database. Spotted a mistake? Tell us. · How we report