Lamine Yamal makes Ballon d'Or history, becoming first player to be nominated three times before turning 20

Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his team’s second goal during the Spanish La Liga soccer match between Barcelona and Rayo Vallecano in Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Aug. 31, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) Lamine Yamal made Ballon d’Or history after becoming the first player ever to receive three nominations for the prestigious award before the age of 20.The Barcelona forward was included in the 30-man shortlist for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, which was announced on September 8, securing his nomination for the third consecutive year after also being shortlisted in 2024 and 2025.Born on July 13, 2007 in Mataró, Spain, Yamal is still only 19 but has already established himself as one of the most outstanding players in world football for both FC Barcelona and Spain.Success is different from just being nominated multiple times. Legendary figures including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi have been nominated for the Ballon d’Or numerous times, while Yamal’s difference is the age at which he collected his three nominations.He was also the youngest player ever to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or, breaking into the 2024 shortlist aged just 17.

Yamal has now been nominated three years in a row

Yamal’s first Ballon d’Or nomination came in 2024 when he finished eighth in the voting after playing a key role in Spain’s victory at the 2024 European Championship.A year later, he was even closer to winning the award.Yamal finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or, behind Paris Saint-Germain winger Ousmane Dembele, who enjoyed a treble campaign.His third consecutive nomination follows another outstanding season for club and country.For Barcelona, Yamal scored 24 goals and provided 15 assists in 45 games across all competitions, helping Hansi Flick’s side successfully defend their La Liga and Supercopa de España titles.He then played a significant role in Spain’s winning campaign at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.Yamal appeared in all seven of Spain’s World Cup matches, scoring and assisting once during the tournament. Spain beat 10-man defending champions Argentina in the final in New Jersey in July to win their second World Cup.The achievement added further weight to Yamal’s case for the 2026 Ballon d’Or after already collecting major accolades at club and international level.His club honors include three La Liga titles in 2023, 2025 and 2026, as well as a domestic treble in 2025.Individually, he won the Kopa Trophy in both 2024 and 2025, making him the only player in football history to win the World Young Player award in consecutive years, making him the only player in football history to win the World Young Player award in consecutive years.

Yamal has already rewritten the Spanish record books

Yamal’s record-breaking Ballon d’Or achievement is just the latest in a string of milestones he has achieved at an extraordinarily young age.He played 33 games for the Spanish senior national team and scored seven goals. Before his 20th birthday, he became an established figure at La Roja.His international career began with another historic success.Yamal became Spain’s youngest player and youngest goalscorer when he made his senior debut against Georgia on 8 September 2023, aged just 16 years and 57 days.He won Euro 2024, UEFA Nations League 2025 and World Cup 2026 with Spain.His World Cup campaign also saw him start all seven matches as Spain completed their historic run to the title, making him one of the youngest World Cup winners in football history.The 2026 Ballon d’Or nomination comes after an equally impressive start to the club’s new season.Yamal drew a blank as Barcelona opened their campaign with a 5-0 win at Elche and again with a 2-0 home win over Athletic Club before scoring twice in a 3-2 home win over Rayo Vallecano.He then scored two more goals as Barcelona thrashed Valencia 5-0 away at the weekend, a result that moved Flick’s side three points clear at the top of the opening La Liga table.

Barcelona’s next challenge is a home game against Feyenoord on September 9 at 22:15 IST as they begin their quest for a first UEFA Champions League title in over a decade.So Yamal’s third Ballon d’Or nomination comes at a remarkable point in his career. He was already the youngest nominee in the award’s history, finishing eighth and then second, winning back-to-back Kopa Trophies, collecting major domestic and international honors and helping Spain become world champions.Now, before even turning 20, he has become the first ever player to receive three Ballon d’Or nominations at that age.The 2026 ceremony will take place on Monday 26 October 2026 at the London Palladium, marking the first time that the Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held outside of Paris.The 30-man shortlist features big names alongside Yamal including defending champions Ousmane Dembélé, Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappé and 39-year-old Lionel Messi, with the winner to be crowned in London.However, the nomination itself secured another unique place in the history of the Golden Ball for Yamal.