Mbappe praises Yamal ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or, calling the Barcelona winger extremely talented after Yamal backed himself for the award

Kylian Mbappe, the Real Madrid forward and France captain, on Friday, 18 September 2026, praised Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal as an “extremely talented” player after the teenager said he and Mbappe should be regarded as the leading contenders for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.

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Yamal, 19, recently placed himself and Mbappe at the centre of the race for the prestigious individual award, while also saying that he deserved to win the prize ahead of the France international.

The comments have added another layer of interest to an emerging rivalry between two of European football’s most prominent young attacking players.

Mbappe, however, responded without engaging in a public exchange over who should receive the award.

Speaking to AS editorial director José Félix Díaz ahead of Real Madrid’s La Liga meeting with Atlético Madrid on Sunday, Mbappe praised Yamal’s ability and expressed confidence about the Barcelona player’s future.

“I think he is an extremely talented player,” Mbappe said.

“I have a feeling he will have a brilliant career. I wish him, his family and everyone around him all the best.”

Yamal has established himself as one of Barcelona’s most influential attacking players despite his age, while Mbappe remains one of the leading figures in European football following his move to Real Madrid.

The two forwards have developed contrasting but increasingly prominent profiles. Mbappe’s career already includes a World Cup triumph with France, multiple domestic titles and years of experience at the highest level, while Yamal’s rapid rise has made him one of the most closely watched young players in world football.

Yamal’s confidence about his Ballon d’Or prospects reflects the ambition that has accompanied his development at Barcelona.

The Spain international has already featured prominently for both club and country and has continued to attract attention for his creativity, attacking movement and ability to influence matches from wide positions.

Mbappe’s response was notably measured, with the Real Madrid forward choosing to focus on Yamal’s potential rather than directly addressing the Barcelona player’s claim that he should win the award.

The exchange comes as attention builds around the 2026 Ballon d’Or, one of football’s most closely followed individual honours.

The award is determined by votes from an international panel of journalists, with individual performances, achievements and influence during the relevant season forming part of the assessment.

For Yamal, a Ballon d’Or triumph would represent another extraordinary milestone in a career that has developed at remarkable speed.

For Mbappe, the award remains another significant individual ambition as he continues his career at Real Madrid.

The pair’s respective performances during the 2025-26 season will ultimately form part of the conversation around the award, while the coming months could further shape the contest.

For now, Mbappe has offered Yamal an encouraging assessment rather than a direct response to the competitive claim.

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His message was simple: Yamal is exceptionally gifted, and Mbappe expects the Barcelona youngster to enjoy a “brilliant career”.