Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane won the 2026 Ballon d'Or on Monday, provoking furious criticism from the family of Barcelona runner-up Lamine Yamal.
Yamal's uncle, Abdul, spoke out from the family cafe in Rocafonda to claim the award had been gifted to Kane simply because the English forward was nearing the end of his career, while the 19-year-old Spanish winger had his entire football future ahead of him.
The announcement represented a severe blow for Yamal, whose face was a picture of disappointment as Kane walked up to the stage. Relatives of the young forward in Catalonia made no attempt to conceal their distress following the presentation.
Criticism from the family cafe
Speaking from the family business, Bar Familia LY 304 Cafeteria in Rocafonda, Abdul said he was very sad and felt terrible about the decision. He insisted his nephew was exceptionally talented and described him as the best player in the world, adding that everyone in football already knew it.
Abdul argued that anyone who loved football would choose to watch Yamal rather than Kane. Pointing out that the prize was supposed to reward the finest player, he said the choice should have been obvious before the ceremony, contending that Kane was merely a goalscorer while Yamal was the best footballer on the pitch.
According to Abdul, age was the only reason his nephew was overlooked, remarking that the Barcelona forward had endured bad luck this year. He complained without hesitation that observers always pointed out Yamal was only 19 and would win the trophy later, while Kane had only three days of football left and was therefore handed the accolade as a gift.
Abdul highlighted that Yamal had already won a World Cup, La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup during an incredible season, praising his passing and assists alongside goals that nobody else could score. While describing the outcome as a bitter disappointment, he insisted the story was far from finished and predicted his nephew would go on to win five Ballons d'Or.
Close race for the 2026 trophy
Kane was awarded the 2026 Ballon d'Or on Monday in recognition of his performances across the 2025-2026 campaign, marking the first time the England captain has claimed the prestigious honor following an impressive season at both individual and collective level.
The 2026 edition was regarded as the tightest race for the trophy in recent memory, with no clear frontrunner established before the vote. Kane gained momentum as the ceremony approached, eventually emerging alongside Yamal and Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe as the leading candidates.
Rise of Kane and Yamal
Kane arrived at Bayern Munich in the German Bundesliga after spending the majority of his senior career at Tottenham Hotspur in London. The forward established himself as England's all-time record goalscorer and one of modern football's most prolific finishers, competing at the highest level of European club and international competition.
Yamal enjoyed a rapid rise to prominence after emerging from Barcelona's famed La Masia youth academy. Raised in Rocafonda, a working-class neighborhood in the Catalan city of Mataro north of Barcelona, he frequently celebrates his goals by displaying the number 304 with his fingers in tribute to his local postal code.
Organised by the French publication France Football since its inception in 1956, the Ballon d'Or is awarded annually through voting by an international panel of specialized sports journalists. The honor evaluates individual excellence, decisive contributions and team success across the European football season.
The award was dominated for more than a decade by multiple winners Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, but recent voting cycles have ushered in an open era, placing young wingers like Yamal in direct competition with established European stars.
