Gabby Agbonlahor, the former captain of Aston Villa, has identified Lamine Yamal as his top choice to claim the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The pundit placed the young Spanish winger ahead of established stars like Kylian Mbappe, Harry Kane, Lionel Messi, and Kvicha Kvaratskhelia.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Agbonlahor weighed in on the race for the prestigious individual honor. While he acknowledged Harry Kane’s impressive tally of 72 goals, he argued that the English forward’s lack of success in the Champions League and the World Cup would hinder his chances. Regarding Kvaratskhelia, the former England player admitted he would personally favor the Georgian star, but noted that his absence from the World Cup essentially disqualifies him from contention.
Agbonlahor expressed great confidence in Yamal, highlighting the 19-year-old’s significant achievements over the past year. Yamal’s track record includes winning the World Cup and LaLiga, complemented by an impressive season at Barcelona where he recorded 24 goals and 18 assists in 45 matches. Having finished second to Ousmane Dembele in the 2025 rankings, Agbonlahor believes Yamal is now primed to take the top prize.
