Jesus and Rodri back Yamal for Ballon d’Or

Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.

Gabriel Jesus and Rodri have backed Barcelona club-mate Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or.

Yamal has claimed he should win football’s biggest individual accolade this year.

He played a pivotal role in Barcelona retaining their LaLiga crown last season, before then going on to help Spain win the World Cup.

Harry Kane (41) and Michael Olise (34) are the only players to register more direct goal involvements this calendar year than Yamal (31 – 22 goals, nine assists).

And Jesus, who joined Barca from Arsenal late in the summer transfer window, feels the 19-year-old is clearly the Ballon d’Or favourite.

“This year, it should go to Lamine,” said Jesus, in quotes carried by journalist Fabrizio Romano.

“I’ve had the opportunity to train with great players, and Lamine is one more among those I’ve trained and played with.

“Everything he does, he makes look easy.”

— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) September 15, 2026

New Barca midfielder Rodri, meanwhile, has also offered his support to Yamal.

Rodri, who won the Ballon d’Or in 2024, won the Golden Ball at the World Cup – the award that goes to the best player at the tournament.

The former Manchester City man said Barca have decided to throw their support behind Yamal, and Rodri fully agrees with that decision.

“Ballon d’Or? The club has chosen to back Lamine,” Rodri told Mundo Deportivo.

“They say he’s the player most deserving of the award, and that’s completely legitimate. 

“I hope that a Spanish player wins.”

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