Yamal congratulates Ballon winners, omits Kane’s name amid buzz
Barcelona’s 19‑year‑old prodigy Lamine Yamal finally posted a message congratulating the winners of the Ballon d’Or ceremony on Tuesday night, yet he stopped short of naming England captain Harry Kane, who claimed the award on Monday night. The Bayern Munich striker became the first Englishman to win the honour since Michael Owen in 2001.
Yamal wrote on Instagram, “It will come, good things take time, I trust the path I’m building. Without a hurry, with excitement and with the tranquility that someday my time will come.” He added that his focus returns to “making FC Barcelona win again”, underscoring his ambition for future Ballon success.
The young winger also collected the Young Talent of the Year award for a third consecutive year, but when co‑host Thierry Henry asked if that was the prize he truly wanted, Yamal politely suggested the honour belonged to his Barcelona and Spain teammate Pau Cubarsi.
Family defence fuels the row
Yamal’s uncle Abdul, speaking to Cadena SER, defended his nephew fiercely, claiming “my nephew was fantastic, he was the best player in the world”. He added, “Everyone knows it. If you love football, you go to see Lamine, not Harry Kane.”
Real Madrid legend Guti entered the debate on a Spanish panel, suggesting the ceremony’s move to London was orchestrated. “It just so happens that, for the 70th anniversary, they move the ceremony to London and someone from London wins it,” he said, before trailing off as another panelist offered the word “orchestrated”.
Kane wins Ballon d'Or, Guti questions London event
Voting tight, supporters question outcome
France Football’s Vincent Garcia confirmed the vote was “incredibly tight” between the English star and his closest rival Kylian Mbappé, noting the race was decided by very little. Supporters of Yamal and Mbappé have questioned why their favourites lost out, pointing to footage from the London Palladium where both failed to stand to shake Kane’s hand.
The Nou buzz among fans grew after the hand‑shake snub, adding fuel to the conspiracy chatter that has surrounded the award.
Kane’s celebration and the London ceremony
After the ceremony, Kane celebrated in London with his wife Katie Goodland, dancing at Cirque Le Soir before returning to Bayern Munich training for a mid‑week DFB‑Pokal tie. His family appeared on the red carpet, and the event’s relocation to London was a one‑off tribute to Sir Stanley Matthews on the award’s 70th anniversary.
Kane wins 2026 Ballon d'Or in close vote
The Ballon d’Or, presented in October at the London Palladium, marked a historic moment for English football, with the 33‑year‑old English striker adding the ultimate individual honour to his résumé.