Lamine Yamal strengthens his case after Wembley goal

Lamine Yamal added compelling arguments to his case by helping Spain to a 3-2 win over England at Wembley in the Nations League. A scorer and key figure in the victory, he once again took on a role usually reserved for more established players, despite being only 19.

This match will not count, with voting closing this Monday. It nevertheless illustrates the importance the forward has assumed, both for Barça and the national team. His candidacy is not based solely on numbers and trophies: his ability to decide matches, create chances and deliver in the most demanding settings also supports it. In the previous edition, he finished second behind Ousmane Dembélé, then at PSG.

With Barça in 2025-26, Lamine Yamal won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, reached the Champions League quarter-finals and the Copa semi-finals. He notably celebrated the league title with Rafael Louzán. In the league, he was named Best Player and established himself as the competition’s leading creative reference.

His 16 La Liga goals, his best tally in the competition, enabled him to share an award with Ferran Torres. No other La Liga player provided more passes. He scored, assisted or won a penalty in 20 of the 26 matchdays he played.

His case therefore does not come down to goals, unlike that of Mbappé or Kane, the other two favourites in the race. He combines statistical output, creativity, trophies, ability to unbalance opponents, consistency and moments of brilliance, including against the strongest opposition.

In the Champions League, he scored six goals and supplied four assists, while influencing eight of the ten matches he played. Against Atlético in the quarter-finals, Barça had to produce a historic comeback at the Metropolitano after losing 2-0 at home: the academy graduate scored in the 2-1 defeat. UEFA also praised his contribution, while he became the youngest player in history to reach ten goals and assists in a single European edition, surpassing Haaland’s precocity record.

Over the full season, he recorded 45 matches, 24 goals, 17 assists and 41 direct goal contributions. A constant threat to opposing defences, he had also won the 2026 Spanish Super Cup final.

His international record completes the picture: he scored his first goal against Saudi Arabia, was named MVP against Austria and then again against Belgium in the quarter-finals, producing a high volume of shots and dribbles. His individual output, the trophies won and his impact in major matches place him ahead of the other candidates, according to this assessment.