Yamal, Rodri and Cubarsí's matches could sway the Ballon d'Or
Lamine Yamal and Rodri, world champions, are trying to strengthen their Ballon d'Or candidacy while the jury of 100 journalists from the top 100 countries according to the FIFA ranking continues voting until Monday 28 September; the ceremony will be on Monday 26 October in London.
The 30 candidates were announced last Tuesday by the magazine France Football and UEFA. The jury is composed of 100 specialist journalists, one for each of the top 100 countries in the FIFA ranking. Each vote is cast before the deadline that expires on Monday 28 September. The image of Diego Souto (Getty) illustrates the coverage of the process. Sergi Solé, Head of the Ballon d'Or, oversees the voting phase.
The matches that can influence
Barcelona will play three matches that can serve as a showcase for the nominees. The first match against Levante is played today, followed by Racing on Wednesday the 16th and Sevilla on Saturday the 19th. In those games Lamine Yamal, Rodri and Pau Cubarsí will look to stand out to earn more points among the voters.
Being world champions is a key factor in the Ballon d'Or assessment. Both Yamal and Rodri lifted the World Cup with Spain, which strengthens their image before the jury. Their performance in the remaining matches can consolidate that advantage.
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Criteria and background of the Ballon
The award organization defines three clear criteria: decisive individual performances, collective results and titles, and class and fair play. Yamal won the Kopa Trophy in 2024 and 2025, while Cubarsí was named the Best Young Player of the 2026 World Cup. These achievements add to the established criteria.
The Spanish representative on the jury is José Félix Díaz, editorial director of As, who replaced Alfredo Relaño this year. Relaño had succeeded Francesc Aguilar in 2014, who had voted in 24 consecutive editions since 1990. In 2013, the extension of the deadline benefited Cristiano Ronaldo, who overtook Leo Messi after a hat‑trick.
Each jury member must score ten of the thirty candidates using the scale 15, 12, 10, 8, 7, 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1 point. This methodology allows the votes to be distributed according to each juror’s individual assessment. The final results will be announced at the London ceremony.
The contrast between the voting phase already underway and the upcoming matches shows that immediate performance remains decisive for the candidates. With the deadline approaching, Barcelona’s three matches represent the last chance to influence the Ballon d'Or.