Pascal Ferré, the former chief of the Ballon d'Or, has expressed his belief that Barcelona's Lamine Yamal is more deserving of the 2026 Ballon d'Or than Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé. Ferré's comments come as the football world anticipates the announcement of the prestigious award on October 26.

In a recent statement, Ferré acknowledged that while Mbappé had an impressive season, it did not measure up to Yamal's achievements. Yamal's accolades this year include winning both the LaLiga title and the World Cup, a feat that Ferré believes significantly enhances his candidacy for the award.

Conversely, Mbappé, despite being the top scorer in LaLiga, the UEFA Champions League, and the World Cup, did not secure any trophies with his club during the season. Ferré emphasized the importance of winning in football, stating, "Honestly, I think Kylian’s campaign is massive compared to Lamine’s. For me, you don’t ask for a Ballon d’Or. You earn it."

Ferré's perspective reflects a broader sentiment in the football community that individual accolades should be accompanied by team success. He noted that among the 30 nominees for the award, Mbappé was one of the few who did not win any trophies, which he finds peculiar for a player vying for the title of the world's best.

"It seems strange to me to be the best player in the world without winning anything during the season. Football remains a team sport. If you don’t manage to win, it means you weren’t strong enough. That’s my view," Ferré added.

As the date for the Ballon d'Or announcement approaches, the debate over who deserves the accolade intensifies. While Mbappé's individual performances have garnered widespread acclaim, Yamal's contributions to his team's successes could tip the scales in his favor, according to Ferré's analysis. The football community will be watching closely to see how the jury ultimately decides on this contentious issue.