After the 2026 Ballon d'Or ceremony, Spain national team coach Luis de la Fuente publicly backed Yamal.
For the 19-year-old Yamal, this was another disappointing result. He had hoped to win football's most prestigious individual award following his outstanding season performance.
However, Luis de la Fuente remains confident in Yamal's future. He said: "Yamal will win more than one Ballon d'Or; he just needs to stay calm. He is an amazing player."