"When the time comes," Yamal comments after losing the Ballon d'Or.

He added: "I congratulate the winners, and I will focus on what is most important, which is leading Barcelona to victory."

Best Young Player Award for the third consecutive time

Despite not winning the Ballon d'Or, Yamal received the Best Young Player award for the third consecutive year, after finishing second in the 2025 edition behind Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé, a player for Paris Saint-Germain.

The Spanish star ranked third in the 2026 edition, behind Bayern Munich's English forward Harry Kane, the award winner, and Kylian Mbappé, a forward for Real Madrid.

Yamal had previously expressed his belief that he deserved to win the Ballon d'Or this year, asserting that he considers himself "the best player in the world", alongside Mbappé.

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The 19-year-old winger from Barcelona stated in an Instagram post on Tuesday evening that "his time will come" if he continues to work at the same level, emphasizing his confidence in the path he is taking in his football journey.

Yamal wrote: "It will happen. Beautiful things take time, and I trust the path I am building. Without rushing, with hope and calm, and with the certainty that my time will come one day."

He added: "I congratulate the winners, and I will focus on what is most important, which is leading Barcelona to victory."

Best Young Player Award for the third consecutive time

Despite not winning the Ballon d'Or, Yamal received the Best Young Player award for the third consecutive year, after finishing second in the 2025 edition behind Frenchman Ousmane Dembélé, a player for Paris Saint-Germain.

The Spanish star ranked third in the 2026 edition, behind Bayern Munich's English forward Harry Kane, the award winner, and Kylian Mbappé, a forward for Real Madrid.

Yamal had previously expressed his belief that he deserved to win the Ballon d'Or this year, asserting that he considers himself "the best player in the world", alongside Mbappé.