Lamine Yamal reportedly expected Harry Kane to win Ballon d’Or before finishing third

Lamine Yamal reportedly began to suspect that Harry Kane would win the 2026 Ballon d’Or before the ceremony in London, according to Spanish newspaper SPORT, as the Barcelona winger ultimately missed out on football’s most prestigious individual award.

The 19-year-old finished third in the voting, behind winner Kane and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé, marking his second consecutive year without claiming the main prize.

According to the report, Yamal travelled to London hoping to secure the award but increasingly believed the Bayern Munich striker would emerge victorious.

Despite the disappointment, the young Spaniard reportedly accepted the outcome with good grace and remains determined to win the Ballon d’Or in the future.

Kane takes home football’s biggest individual prize

Kane’s victory followed a remarkable 2025/26 campaign in which he scored prolifically for Bayern Munich and England. His performances helped Bayern secure major domestic honours and strengthened his case for individual recognition.

The England captain’s triumph also made him the first English player to win the Ballon d’Or since Michael Owen in 2001.

Mbappé finished second after another prolific season, while Yamal had to settle for third despite his impressive performances for Barcelona and Spain.

Yamal claims third consecutive Kopa Trophy

Although he missed out on the main award, Yamal did not leave the ceremony empty-handed. The Barcelona winger won the Kopa Trophy for the third consecutive year, recognising him as the outstanding young player in world football.

The achievement further underlines his standing among football’s brightest young talents and provides another individual milestone for the teenager.

Yamal has already established himself as a key figure at Barcelona, and his continued presence among the Ballon d’Or’s leading contenders suggests he will remain part of the conversation in future editions.

For now, Kane takes the spotlight as the 2026 winner, while Yamal will look to turn his growing collection of individual honours into a challenge for the sport’s biggest individual prize in the years ahead.