Former La Liga star Marcos Senna has backed Lamine Yamal to claim the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting the Barcelona teenager is already performing at a level beyond his peers.
Senna, speaking to Sport, described the 18-year-old Spain international as “totally different from the rest” and predicted that Yamal could go on to win multiple Ballon d’Or titles if he continues his current trajectory.
“There is no doubt that if Lamine continues on this path, he will be the next Ballon d’Or winner,” Senna said.
“He is a player who is totally different from the rest. Lamine is going to win many more Ballon d’Or awards.”
The 2025 Ballon d’Or was awarded to Ousmane Dembele of Paris Saint-Germain on Monday, with Yamal finishing second and Dembele’s teammate Vitinha placing third. Senna admitted Dembele deserved this year’s crown but added that a Yamal victory “would not have been a robbery.”
