Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has chartered a private jet to attend Monday’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in London with family and close friends, choosing not to travel with Barcelona’s official delegation.

According to Víctor Navarro, the 19-year-old arranged the private trip so members of his inner circle could accompany him to the gala.

Yamal is among the leading attractions at the ceremony and is in contention for football’s most prestigious individual award after finishing second in the previous vote.

His decision means he will not make the journey with Barcelona’s official representatives. Instead, the forward has orgorganised  own travel plans to ensure his family and friends can share the occasion.

Yamal has become one of the biggest names in world football despite his age, with his performances for Barcelona and Spain placing him among the sport’s leading individual award candidates. Monday’s event offers another chance for him to add to his growing list of achievements.

The trip is also significant beyond the result for Yamal, as it allows those who have supported his development to experience the ceremony with him.

It is not the first time Yamal has made special arrangements around the Ballon d’Or. At the previous ceremony in Paris, he reportedly organized a celebration with friends and family in anticipation of winning the award.

That night ultimately belonged to Ousmane Dembele, who won the Ballon d’Or, while Yamal finished second and collected the Kopa Trophy as the best young player.

Yamal returns to the ceremony with an established reputation among the leading figures in the sport.

His continued development and importance to Barcelona have kept him in the conversation for football’s biggest individual prizes, though the final result will depend on the voting.