De la Fuente backs Yamal for Ballon d'Or and calls for Oyarzabal's inclusion

Luis de la Fuente, the coach who led Spain to victory in the FIFA World Cup 2026, has included Lamine Yamal among the top contenders for the Ballon d'Or, affirming his confidence in the FC Barcelona star's ability to win the award, either this year or in the future.

De la Fuente said: "I believe that Lamine Yamal is capable of winning the Ballon d'Or, because he is Spanish and because he is a really great football player. If he doesn't win it this year, he will win it in the future, and I don't think he will take long to achieve that."

The coach of the Spain national team said: "A Spanish footballer must win it. I would like to say that I miss Mikel Oyarzabal in the list of nominees. The person who was supposed to write down the names dropped the paper on the ground, and that's why he didn't include him in the list," referring sarcastically to the exclusion of the Real Sociedad forward from the nominees.

De la Fuente's comments come amid strong competition for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with Yamal included in the official list of nominees, while Oyarzabal's absence has sparked controversy in Spanish circles, especially after his prominent role with the national team.