Irene Junquera criticises Yamal and Mbappé's Ballon d'Or campaign
On Rubén Martín's YouTube channel, journalist Irene Junquera said that neither Lamine Yamal nor Kylian Mbappé deserve the 2026 Ballon d'Or, calling their public request lamentable just 21 days before the award in London.
Reason for the criticism
Junquera does not question the players' desire to win, but rebukes them for publicly demanding an award that, in her view, should be based solely on performance and the voters' assessment. «Neither Mbappé nor Lamine Yamal deserve the Ballon d'Or. It has been lamentable to see them asking for it», she said in the conversation with Rubén Martín.
The criticism comes just over a week after Lamine Yamal claimed to be at Ballon d'Or level and that his age should not be a factor in awarding another. Mbappé has also spoken openly about his chances, fueling the debate between ambition and self‑promotion.
Context and predictions
Junquera extended her criticism to the award itself, arguing that the criterion is absurd because a striker cannot be compared with a goalkeeper. «To me, the criterion seems absurd because you cannot compare a striker with a goalkeeper. A Ballon d'Or that rewards the best footballer is something so ethereal that I don't know how to define it», she explained.
To illustrate the inequality, she recalled Thibaut Courtois and Iker Casillas, two Real Madrid goalkeepers who, in her view, never had the chance to compete for an award intended for goal‑scorers. Courtois, who entered the race this year, advocated the award for Mbappé over Lamine, noting that it should not go to the one who has accumulated the most titles.
The supporters of each candidacy present different arguments: Mbappé relies on his goal‑scoring figures, while Yamal highlights his impact at Barcelona and with the Spanish national team. Other contenders could base their case on collective titles or decisive influence in key matches.
On the prediction platform Polymarket, Lamine Yamal's odds rose from 28 % to 45 % at the end of September, overtaking Harry Kane. However, Junquera emphasized that the final verdict does not depend on betting odds, but on journalists' votes.
The official winner announcement will take place at the Ballon d'Or gala in London on October 26, where the voters will decide whether Yamal's and Mbappé's public claims receive support.