Samuel Eto’o Backs Lamine Yamal Ahead of the Ballon d’Or

The race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or is entering its decisive weeks, and Lamine Yamal has just received the backing of one of Barcelona’s greatest legends. Samuel Eto’o took to social media to send a message to the Spanish international and make his position clear before the new winner is announced.

Eto’o Picks His Candidate

There was no need for a lengthy explanation. Samuel Eto’o posted a photo of Lamine Yamal on Instagram and accompanied it with a message highlighting three qualities of the Barcelona star: “Genius, bold, talented.”

The Cameroonian also wished him luck in the race for the Ballon d’Or and went even further by describing him as the “Ballon d’Or of our hearts,” making it clear that his opinion of the young Spaniard will not depend on the final outcome of the voting.

“Whatever the verdict,” Eto’o wrote, Lamine Yamal already holds a special place for him, just like Ousmane Dembélé, the winner of the previous edition. The message ended with a simple request for the youngster: “Keep making us dream.”

Lamine Yamal Has a Strong Case for the Ballon d’Or

Eto’o’s support comes at a time when Lamine Yamal is not hiding his ambitions either. The 19-year-old forward is coming off a season in which he played a starring role for Barcelona and won the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Spain.

In a recent interview with L’Équipe, Lamine argued that the award should recognize that special player capable of creating excitement every time he receives the ball. He also pointed to his playing style as one of his strongest arguments in the race for the award.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled for October 26 in London, leaving another month of debate before the winner is revealed.

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A Barcelona Legend Backs Its New Star

The message also carries special meaning because of the history both players share with Barcelona. Eto’o was one of the club’s biggest stars during his time as a striker, and he now watches from afar as Lamine Yamal has become one of the leading figures of the Blaugrana.

This time, Eto’o did not need statistics or comparisons to explain his choice. With only a few weeks remaining before the ceremony, the Cameroonian simply made it public which player he wants to see lift the trophy.

And his candidate is Lamine Yamal.

Samuel Eto’o publicly backed Lamine Yamal in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or.
The Cameroonian described the Barcelona star as “genius, bold, talented” and said he is already the “Ballon d’Or of our hearts.”
The winner of the 2026 Ballon d’Or will be announced on October 26 in London.