Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has vowed to keep pursuing his ambitions after finishing third in the 2026 men’s Ballon d’Or rankings, saying he believes his moment will eventually come.
The 19-year-old made the remarks in a Facebook post on Tuesday, a day after Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane won the prestigious individual award ahead of Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe and Yamal.
“My time will come. Good things take time, and I trust the path I’m building,” Yamal wrote.
“No rush, with plenty of ambition, and with the calmness that comes from knowing my moment will arrive one day,” he added.
The Spain international congratulated the winners and said his attention had returned to helping Barcelona recover their winning form.
“Congratulations to the winners. My focus now returns to what matters most: bringing Barcelona back to winning ways,” he wrote.
Despite missing out on the main prize, Yamal won the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year, recognising the best young player.
His post comes after Barcelona lost 2-1 to Real Madrid in Sunday’s El Clasico, leaving the forward focused on the club’s response in their upcoming fixtures.
Tosin Oyediran is a journalist with Punch Newspapers, bringing over eight years of newsroom experience to his coverage of politics, health, advocacy, sports, and entertainment. Known for sharp interviews and human-centered reporting, his work focuses on public accountability, civic issues, and the stories shaping everyday lives.
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