Fairly just a few observers gave Spain's younger star Lamine Yamal a critical likelihood of successful the 2026 Ballon d'Or. Since final night time, although, one factor is obvious: he has not (but) completed sufficient to say soccer's most prestigious prize, with each winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappé ending forward of him.
Whereas the 19-year-old nonetheless appeared slightly dejected on the ceremony itself after being named “solely” the world's greatest younger participant for the third yr operating, his temper appeared to enhance because the night went on.
Movies and photographs on ‘X’ and ‘TikTok’ confirmed simply that.
His little brother didn’t appear significantly impressed with the occasion both.
However because the night time wore on, his temper appeared to enhance. After the ceremony, he posted a video on ‘TikTok’ together with his girlfriend, Inés García Santos.
Maybe an upcoming go to to a fast-food large additionally had one thing to do together with his improved temper.
France Soccer chief Vincent Garcia supplied a principle yesterday as to why Yamal completed solely third. Talking to the newspaper ‘L’Équipe’, he mentioned the votes for the Spanish nominees had been “considerably break up”. Final yr's winner Rodri completed fourth.
The Spaniards' sturdy displaying might subsequently have price Yamal essential votes. “I feel Rodri took votes away from Lamine on this yr's voting,” Garcia mentioned.
Kylian Mbappé, by the way, additionally appeared to take his defeat to Harry Kane fairly nicely in the long run. As he left the occasion by way of the pink carpet, a digicam caught him taking part in a spherical of rock-paper-scissors.
By the top of Ballon d'Or night time, then, all of the superstars appeared to be again in excessive spirits.
This text was translated into English by Synthetic Intelligence. .