Rodri Took Votes From Lamine Yamal in Ballon d’Or Race

Rodri Took Ballon d’Or Votes Away From Lamine Yamal, Says France Football Chief

Rodri may have cost Lamine Yamal valuable votes in the 2026 Ballon d’Or race, according to Vincent García, editor-in-chief of France Football, who believes support for Spain’s World Cup-winning players was divided between the two stars.

Yamal finished third in the final rankings, behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappé, while Rodri placed fourth. García believes the presence of two prominent Spanish candidates made it harder for either player to secure enough support to finish at the top of the voting. <Cite refs={["turn985657search0","turn985657search3"]}/>

Rodri and Yamal Split the Spanish Vote

Speaking after the ceremony, García explained that the voting may have been affected by the strength of Spain as a collective team rather than one individual standing clearly above the rest.

He suggested that Rodri attracted votes that might otherwise have gone to Yamal, reducing the Barcelona forward’s chances of winning the award.

García’s comments do not mean Rodri deliberately attempted to undermine his compatriot. Rather, they point to a familiar challenge in individual awards: when several players from the same successful team have strong cases, voters may distribute their support across multiple candidates.

Spain’s collective success made the decision particularly difficult, according to the France Football chief. <Cite refs={["turn985657search0","turn985657search1"]}/>

Yamal Finishes Third as Rodri Takes Fourth

Yamal had been among the leading contenders for the Ballon d’Or after another impressive period at the highest level. However, he ultimately had to settle for third place, missing out on the main prize to Kane and Mbappé.

Rodri finished immediately behind him in fourth, creating a notable outcome for Spain’s two leading candidates. Both earned places in the top four, but neither secured the award.

The final positions have renewed discussion about how voters balance individual performances against team achievements. A successful national-team campaign can strengthen a player’s case, but it can also make it difficult to identify one standout performer when several teammates have contributed.

A Closely Contested Ballon d’Or

García also described the battle between Kane and Mbappé as exceptionally close. He said Mbappé had led the race for a significant part of the voting period before Kane ultimately moved ahead.

The comments offer a glimpse into the thinking behind this year’s results, although the full voting breakdown is needed to establish exactly how individual votes were distributed.

For Yamal, third place is another major individual achievement, even if the ultimate prize remains out of reach. Rodri’s fourth-place finish also underlines his standing among the world’s leading players.

Do you think Lamine Yamal would have won the 2026 Ballon d’Or if Rodri had not been in the race?