Neymar Names Lamine Yamal ‘Best in the World’ Ahead of 2026 Ballon d’Or

Brazilian forward Neymar has praised Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, describing the Spanish youngster as the “best in the world” ahead of the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony.

The Santos player shared the message on Friday while highlighting a statistical comparison between his own performances for Paris Saint-Germain during the 2017/18 season and Yamal’s early numbers for Barcelona this campaign.

Tagging the Spain international in the post, Neymar wrote: “Best in the world.”

Yamal has enjoyed an impressive start to the season, recording eight goals and nine assists in 10 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona, according to the figures in the original report.

The teenager has continued to attract attention for his attacking contributions, creativity and ability to influence matches from the wing, strengthening his reputation as one of football’s most prominent young talents.

Neymar’s comparison focused on his goal contributions after 27 matches for PSG during the 2017/18 campaign and Yamal’s output after his first 10 appearances for Barcelona this season. The comparison highlights their respective attacking numbers at different stages of their careers, although the difference in matches played means the figures should not be treated as a direct measure of overall performance.

Yamal is also among the players being discussed in connection with the 2026 Ballon d’Or, an award recognising the outstanding individual footballer of the year.

Neymar’s public endorsement adds to the attention surrounding the Barcelona winger as the ceremony approaches. However, his comment represents a personal assessment and does not determine the outcome of the award.

Yamal’s performances for Barcelona and Spain have made him a prominent figure in debates about the world’s leading footballers, while comparisons with established stars such as Neymar reflect the growing expectations surrounding his career.