Lamine Yamal earns historic third Ballon d’Or nomination

Lamine Yamal has moved beyond Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in one Ballon d’Or measure: he is the first player to receive three nominations before his 20th birthday. His inclusion among the 2026 candidates makes it three successive editions for the Barcelona forward, a run neither of the two legends managed at the same age.

Yamal first appeared on the shortlist in 2024, when he was 17 and became the award’s youngest nominee. He finished eighth that year, then rose to second in 2025 behind Ousmane Dembélé. Messi’s first nomination came at 19 in 2006, but his next arrived after he had turned 20. Ronaldo was also 19 when nominated in 2004 and crossed that age threshold before appearing again in 2005.

The latest recognition reflects more than Yamal’s early arrival. He helped Barcelona secure another Spanish league title and then won the World Cup with Spain. He is also a two-time Kopa Trophy winner and now sits among the leading Ballon d’Or contenders. After finishing runner-up last year, the 2026 nomination gives him a chance to become the youngest winner in the prize’s history. He has made clear that he believes he can win, while choosing not to run a personal campaign for the award.