Barcelona legend Samuel Eto’o has wished Lamine Yamal luck in the battle to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
Yamal is in the running for the prize after a season where he won La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain.
Eto’o is hoping the teenager will be crowned the best player on the planet next month and has sent out a message to the Barcelona star.
“Genius, Bold, Talented…Best of luck in this Ballon d’Or race. But whatever the verdict is, one thing is certain: just like Ousmane, you are already
the Ballon d’Or of our hearts. Keep making us dream,” he wrote on Instagram.
Yamal has spoken a few times publicly about his desire to win the Ballon d’Or which has subsequently drawn criticism from some quarters. However, the Barcelona star says he is only saying what he thinks.
“They ask footballers to be honest, then I say what I think… and they say, ‘But how can he say that?’ People ask for things they don’t want. I’m not going to change who I am until I retire, and I’m not going to say anything I don’t believe,” he told Teledeporte.
The winner of the Ballon d’Or will be announced on Monday, October 26th.
