Samuel Eto’o supports Lamine Yamal for Ballon d’Or

Samuel Eto’o has made his preference clear ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, publicly supporting Lamine Yamal as a leading contender for the prestigious award.

The winner will be announced in London on October 26, with Yamal competing against a strong group of candidates, including Kylian Mbappe, Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Harry Kane, Michael Olise and Fabian Ruiz. Choosing a successor to Dembele is expected to be difficult, given the quality of the shortlist.

Eto’o, a former Barcelona star and current president of the Cameroon Football Federation, shared his opinion through an Instagram post dedicated to Yamal. The message included a photograph of the young Spanish international and praised his personality and ability.

“The Ballon d’Or of our hearts. Brilliant, bold, talented… Good luck in the race for the Ballon d’Or. But whatever the outcome, one thing is certain: just like Ousmane (Dembele), you are already the Ballon d’Or of our hearts. Keep making us dream.”

The tribute quickly attracted tens of thousands of likes, underlining Yamal’s popularity. At 19, the Barcelona playmaker is already regarded as one of the favourites, and Eto’o’s endorsement adds further attention to his campaign.