Yamal's uncle: If you love football, you watch Yamal, not Kane

Yamal was visibly disappointed after finishing third in the 2026 Ballon d'Or, according to RMC. Many Catalans shared his frustration. Chief among them was his uncle Abdul, who spoke to Spanish media moments after Kane was crowned.

The result was difficult to accept. At just 19 years old, Yamal had hoped to win the Ballon d'Or on the back of his brilliant performances, LaLiga title, and World Cup success. Instead, he finished third at Monday's ceremony in London, behind Kane and Mbappé. Sitting in the audience at the London Palladium, the Barcelona sensation could not hide his disappointment when the winner was announced.

The result disappointed more than one Catalan. Speaking on Cadena SER, Yamal's uncle Abdul was blunt in his assessment: "My nephew is too good—he's the best player in the world. Everyone knows it. If you love football, you watch Yamal, not Kane."

Abdul remained visibly upset. "Yamal is still only 19 years old, and he will win many more honors in the future," he said. "He's won the World Cup, LaLiga, and the Super Cup. He plays brilliantly. He's had an incredible season. No one else scores the goals he scores—the passes, assists, everything. He'll win five Ballon d'Or awards."

Barcelona president Joan Laporta also questioned the decision: "In my opinion, he deserved to win the Ballon d'Or, but the voters decided otherwise. That's football. I hope this serves as motivation for him, as I'm certain it will. His teammates will help him move past this disappointment quickly." Laporta remained confident in Yamal's future. "I firmly believe he will eventually lift the Ballon d'Or. I don't know when, but he deserves it," he added.