​EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – JULY 19: Lamine Yamal #19 of Spain is congratulated by Lionel Messi #10 of Argentina after the 1-0 win during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match between Spain and Argentina at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Hector Vivas – FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images) | FIFA via Getty Images Lamine Yamal has spoken out on the chances FC Barcelona legend Lionel Messi and his teammate for Spain and FC Barcelona, Rodri, have for the Ballon d’Or.Recently, Yamal seemed to say that the race was effectively a two-horse race for the sport’s top individual prize. “Kylian Mbappé and I are the two best in the world. For me, it’s very clear, and everyone who watches the games knows it,” he said in an interview.In a new interview with L’Equipe, Yamal talked about all the other nominees.“They’re all incredible players,” Yamal said.“It doesn’t surprise me that these guys are in the running—they all have their own case to make. Messi is mentioned because he had a great World Cup, for example, and others have different arguments.“We have to respect everyone’s opinion. If someone says, ‘Messi deserves it’ or ‘Rodri deserves it,’ that’s totally respectable—they’re not talking nonsense, right?”Recently, Yamal said that Messi had been the best player at the last FIFA World Cup, despite Yamal’s own team-mate, Rodri, winning the official award for best player. He was far from the only one to hold that opinion, as Messi’s stats and plaudits were once again, on another level, despite not winning the trophy.Yamal and Messi have a long history that started when the youngster was a baby and Messi, in an extraordinary set of coincidences, gave him a bath for a charity calendar.