Rivaldo Lamin Yamal named the strongest candidate for the Golden Ball award

Rivaldo, the legendary footballer of the Brazil national team and FC Barcelona, evaluated the list of nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or award and recognized young wonderkid Lamine Yamal as the strongest candidate. One.uz reports.

In an interview with “RB Sport,” he stated that Yamal’s chances are very high due to his victory in the World Cup with the Spain national team and his fantastic performances for Barcelona. Rivaldo sees Yamal not only as a young player but as a world-class star with a promising future.

European stars and the Messi phenomenon In addition to choosing Yamal, Rivaldo also acknowledged other high-level players across Europe. He stated that players like Kylian Mbappé, Jude Bellingham, and Harry Kane are worthy of the award.

“I would also like to specifically highlight Lionel Messi — even though he is playing football in the USA, he is displaying unique, world-class football on the pitch,” said Rivaldo. This clearly reflects Messi’s influence and standing in the football world even after his prime years.

Award date and historical context The 2026 Ballon d’Or award will be presented on Monday, October 26. This date is considered a highly anticipated event for the most prestigious individual award in world football.

Last season, this award went to Ousmane Dembélé, the striker for the French national team and PSG. This year’s voting results will determine whether Lamine Yamal, as a representative of the young generation, will take the throne, or whether the victory will be remembered as a triumph for experienced goal scorers.

Rivaldo’s predictions highlight the dialogue between youth and experience in the football world — future stars can adapt to current stars and complement each other. Source: One.uz.