Agbonlahor Names Yamal as Favourite for 2026 Ballon d'Or
Former Aston Villa and England striker Gabby Agbonlahor has named Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, placing the 19-year-old above Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Agbonlahor gave his verdict during an appearance on talkSPORT, pointing to Yamal's remarkable haul of honours across the 2025/26 season as the primary reason for his choice.
"I look at Lamine Yamal. Listen, he won the Euros before; won the World Cup this year; won LaLiga; 45 appearances, 24 goals, 18 assists last season with Barcelona. I see Yamal picking it up," Agbonlahor said.
Yamal's Stellar Season and World Cup Heroics
Yamal was one of the top stars at the just-concluded 2026 FIFA World Cup, playing a key role to help Spain win the competition for the second time in their history. Beyond his La Liga triumph with Barcelona, where he scored 16 goals and added 11 assists, as seen on Transfermarkt, Yamal was central to Spain's World Cup victory this summer, the achievement widely considered the most decisive factor in his favour. He also contributed to a further ten goal involvements across Barcelona's Champions League campaign. Bookmakers have moved him to 2/1 to claim the award following the World Cup.
The Spanish teenager finished second in the 2025 Ballon d'Or rankings behind Ousmane Dembele, making him a familiar face near the top of the standings. With his World Cup win, Yamal has now made history by claiming both the European Champions and FIFA World Cup titles before turning 20.
Harry Kane's Record Still Turns Heads
Harry Kane's numbers across the same period have been difficult to ignore. The 32-year-old scored 61 goals in just 51 appearances for Bayern Munich, contributing seven assists alongside that tally. When combined with his international duties, Kane was directly involved in 81 goals across 65 appearances for club and country between August 2025 and July 2026.
Agbonlahor acknowledged the scale of Kane's output but stopped short of tipping him to win. "Harry Kane scored 72 goals in total [for club and country]. I just think, you know, Champions League disappointment, World Cup disappointment. But I don't think he's going to get it," he said.
Mbappe and Other Contenders Fade
Mbappe, who won the Golden Boot and enjoyed a strong season with PSG, had been considered a serious contender but France's early World Cup exit appears to have cost him significantly in the betting markets. Lionel Messi and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia were also mentioned as candidates but have not matched Yamal's trophy collection.
Spain's World Cup Victory Seals Yamal's Case
In a related development, Spain's stunning victory over Argentina in the 2026 FIFA World Cup was secured by Ferran Torres' extra-time goal. With this win, Lamine Yamal, a young sensation, now emerges as a frontrunner for the Ballon d'Or, having made history by claiming both the European Champions and FIFA World Cup titles before turning 20.
