According to a report by Metro on Tuesday October 27, 2026, Lamine Yamal’s uncle, Abdul Abdellaoui, has criticised the decision to award Harry Kane the 2026 Ballon d’Or, insisting that the Barcelona winger deserved to win the prestigious individual prize.

Kane was crowned the best male footballer in the world at the ceremony held at the Palladium Theatre in London on Monday evening, becoming the first Englishman since Michael Owen in 2001 to win the award.

Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe finished second, while Yamal came third despite enjoying an impressive season with Barcelona and Spain.

The 19-year-old, however, won the Young Talent of the Year award for the third consecutive year.

Speaking to El Larguero after the ceremony, Abdul expressed his disappointment with the outcome, arguing that his nephew was the best player in the world during the season.

“Well, the truth is it’s really sad, I feel really bad,” he said. “My nephew was amazing, he was the best player in the world, everyone knows it. If you like football, you go to see Lamine, not Harry Kane.”

Abdul acknowledged Kane’s quality as a goalscorer but maintained that Yamal had a greater influence on the pitch.

Yamal’s uncle also suggested that the teenager’s age might have worked against him in the voting, with some believing he has several more opportunities to win the award.

He further argued that Yamal’s achievements and performances throughout the season made him a worthy winner, pointing to his goals, assists and contributions to Barcelona and Spain.

Despite his disappointment, Abdul remains confident that the Barcelona youngster will eventually win football’s most prestigious individual award.

“Lamine will win more than one, but the sadness will pass in three days. In a few days he will be fine,” he said.

Meanwhile, Kane’s victory marked a significant achievement for English football, ending a 25-year wait for an English winner of the men’s Ballon d’Or.