Lamine Yamal backed for Ballon d’Or as Lens stun Prague

Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or campaign is gathering clear support in Spain, with Barcelona and prominent figures from the Spanish game presenting the forward as a leading candidate. The push comes as the award vote approaches and places Yamal in the spotlight alongside contenders including Kylian Mbappé.

Yamal’s case has been strengthened by his performances for Barcelona and Spain. Against Feyenoord, he scored once and supplied two assists, while also becoming the youngest captain in Barcelona’s modern history. He has five goals and two assists in five matches this season. Hansi Flick, Deco, Joan Laporta and Spain coach Luis de la Fuente have all backed his candidacy, while Barcelona is promoting its number 10 through a wider media campaign.

RC Lens also drew major attention in Europe after turning their Champions League opener around at Slavia Prague. The French side trailed 2-1 with fewer than five minutes remaining in normal time before Florian Thauvin levelled in stoppage time. Ruben Aguilar then completed the comeback in the 90th minute plus three, securing a 3-2 victory.

The result gave Lens their first away win in the Champions League since 1998 and prompted strong praise across France and abroad. The performance was described as a dramatic late turnaround, with the scale of the recovery making Lens one of the most notable winners of the opening round.