Former Aston Villa captain, Gabby Agbonlahor, has tipped Spain winger, Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or ahead of the likes of England’s Harry Kane, France’s Kylian Mbappe, Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Georgia’s Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The former England international spoke to talkSPORT, while giving his verdict on which player should win the Ballon d’Or.
“Harry Kane scored 72 goals in total [for club and country]. I just think, you know, Champions League disappointment, World Cup disappointment. But I don’t think he’s going to get it,” Agbonlahor said about the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
“I look at Lamine Yamal. Listen, he won the Euros before; won the World Cup this year; won LaLiga; 45 appearances, 24 goals, 18 assists last season with Barcelona. I see Yamal picking it up,” he said.
He continued, “Do you know the player that I would give it to? [Kvicha] Kvaratskhelia. But he wasn’t at the World Cup, he can’t get it,” he stated.
Yamal won the World Cup and LaLiga with Spain and Barcelona.
The 19-year-old finished in second position behind winner Ousmane Dembele in the 2025 Ballon d’Or ranking.