Figo picks Lamine Yamal to win 2026 Ballon d'Or over Messi in London
Former Portugal international Luis Figo named Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, overlooking Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi. Figo made the comment during a quick-fire "this or that" segment at the EA FC27 launch event on September 26, 2026, saying, "Let's give it to Lamine Yamal because Messi already has a lot." The award winner will be revealed in London next month.
Figo's endorsement spotlights the 17-year-old Yamal, who broke into Barcelona's first team last season and has already attracted attention for his dribbling and creativity. Messi, a record eight-time Ballon d'Or winner, remains a contender but Figo argues the Argentine's trophy cabinet is already full. Other football figures such as former Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and ex-France coach Zinedine Zidane have also weighed in on the race, though their choices were not detailed in the report.
For Nigerian fans tracking the next generation of global stars, the signal is clear: youth is pushing the old guard aside. Will you back Yamal as the future Ballon d'Or holder, or do you still see Messi adding another accolade to his legacy?