Robert Lewandowski has backed Barcelona team-mate Lamine Yamal to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, praising the 19-year-old as “incredible” after a remarkable year.

The award ceremony will take place on Monday, 26 October, at the London Palladium in Soho, London, in one of the most anticipated events of the football calendar.

Harry Kane is the leading contender after scoring 61 goals in 51 appearances for Bayern last season and captaining England to the semi-finals of the World Cup in North America.

Kylian Mbappe and Yamal are among the players expected to challenge him. Yamal helped his country win the World Cup, La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup, while also being named La Liga Player of the Season.

The forward scored 24 goals and provided six assists for the Spanish side, who will hope his achievements earn him enough votes to claim the prize.

Lewandowski believes the race is more open than in previous years but wants Yamal to become the youngest winner in the award’s history.

“We come from an era where two or three players were the clear favourites to win the Ballon d’Or,” Lewandowski said.

“Now I see that it’s a bit more open. Perhaps you can assess 10 players and find that they all have a case for winning this Ballon d’Or.”

He added: “Of course, I wish Lamine Yamal wins the Ballon d’Or, because he is incredible, especially for his age, but even so, if you compare him to the previous era, he’s a bit different.”

Lewandowski also highlighted Kane’s impact since joining Bayern, where the England captain has continued to score heavily.

“Harry Kane arrived at Bayern at the peak of his powers, and what he is doing is incredible, the number of goals he scores,” he said.

“Bayern had been missing a striker of that calibre after I left.”

The Poland international also identified Bayern winger Michael Olise as another player with the ability to compete for the award in the future.

“Lamine and Olise, as wingers, are among the most powerful players in their team, alongside Harry Kane as a striker,” he said.

“I am impressed by the type of player Olise is. He has a huge future ahead of him.”

Lewandowski believes Olise could have been the favourite had he added to his World Cup goalscoring record.

“For me, probably if Olise had scored one or two goals at the World Cup, he would be the favourite to win the Ballon d’Or, alongside Lamine Yamal or Harry Kane.”