Who will win the "Ballon d'Or"? Raphinha responded

Who will win the "Ballon d'Or"? Raphinha answered

Barcelona's Brazilian winger Raphinha said his teammate Lamine Yamal deserves the "Ballon d'Or". The Catalan captain supported the 19-year-old Spanish footballer in the race for the most prestigious individual award in world football.

This was prompted by Lamine Yamal's social media post. The young forward posted photos from the victorious match against Racing. Raphinha did not ignore his teammate's post. His comment was short but meaningful:

"You are a phenomenon. My 'Ballon d'Or'."

Spanish sports publications assessed Raphinha's gesture as the start of an informal media campaign aimed at supporting Yamal. The Brazilian footballer's words also show his authority in the "Blaugrana" dressing room.

Currently, the tandem consisting of the Brazilian and Spanish players is performing productively in La Liga, remaining one of the main driving forces of Hansi Flick's team's attack.

As a reminder, Yamal is considered one of the main contenders for the 2026 "Ballon d'Or". Last season, he triumphed in the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga.

The "Ballon d'Or" presentation ceremony will be held in London for the first time in history. The event, in partnership with France Football and UEFA, will take place on October 26. The relocation of the ceremony from Paris to London is dedicated to the anniversary of the birth of the award's first recipient, Sir Stanley Matthews.

Last year, the "Ballon d'Or" was won by PSG forward Ousmane Dembélé.