Lamin Jamal tops poll of Madrid readers for 2026 Ballon d'Or
A Madrid readers' vote on 15 September 2026 put Lamin Jamal first with 15,516 votes (37%), Mbappé third with 11,455 (27%).
In an unexpected result that surprised many Madrid supporters, a readers’ poll published on 15 September 2026 placed Barcelona forward Lamin Jamal ahead of Real Madrid’s star in the race for this year’s Ballon d'Or.
Poll numbers show Jamal in front
The Madrid sports outlet offered readers three choices: Lamin Jamal, Kylian Mbappé or someone else. The final tally gave Jamal a clear lead among the respondents: 15,516 votes (37%).
The second option — "Someone else" — collected 14,795 votes (36%), while Kylian Mbappé finished third with 11,455 votes (27%).
What made the outcome notable was that a large share of the poll participants are traditionally Real Madrid supporters, yet the Barcelona and Spain international won a comfortable margin over Mbappé.
The result adds fuel to the discussion about who should be considered the leading candidate for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, with Jamal’s performances for Barcelona and the Spanish national team drawing growing praise from neutral and rival fans alike.
Photo: press material from the event
