Sports
Ibrahimović, agent Mendes back Yamal for 2026 Ballon d'Or; Henry picks Mbappé
October 4, 2026 at 05:00 PM
Ibrahimović and agent Jorge Mendes have backed Barcelona's Lamine Yamal for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, while Thierry Henry favors Kylian Mbappé.
- Agent Jorge Mendes, after a two-hour dinner with Barcelona president Joan Laporta on 14 September, said the award should go to Yamal "without any doubt."
- Zlatan Ibrahimović named Yamal his choice at the FC 27 launch in New York; Thierry Henry said he would pick Kylian Mbappé.
- Yamal finished second to Ousmane Dembélé in the 2025 Ballon d'Or, collecting 1,059 points against Dembélé's 1,380.
- Barcelona decided to strengthen Yamal's media presence for the award, and coach Hansi Flick joined the campaign.