De la Fuente backs Lamine Yamal to win Ballon d'Or
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente says Lamine Yamal can win the 2026 Ballon d'Or, also naming Mikel Oyarzabal a snub and praising Xavi Espart's rise.
Luis de la Fuente has backed Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d'Or.
The Spain manager made the remarks on Thursday at the presentation of the Nations League fixture against the Czech Republic, to be played in Oviedo on 3 October. He suggested the wait would not be long even if Yamal misses out this time.
Yamal remains among the frontrunners for the award alongside Rodri and Bayern Munich's Harry Kane. De la Fuente also flagged what he called an omission from this year's list of candidates, naming Mikel Oyarzabal.
Asked about the next generation, De la Fuente pointed to Xavi Espart and Carlos Espí without rushing to make room for either.
He struck a similar note on Marcos Llorente's decision to retire from international football, saying they spoke privately. De la Fuente repeated his view that Spain should host the 2030 World Cup final, one of three co-hosts along with Portugal and Morocco, and said he would relish the chance to lead the team into that match.
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