Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has been nominated for the Onze d’Or for the second consecutive year, with the teenage star hoping to go one step further and win the award after finishing runner-up in 2025.
The Onze d’Or is presented by French magazine Onze Mondial to the world’s best player, as decided by a public vote. Yamal is again up against defending champion Ousmane Dembele, renewing a contest that was narrowly settled in Dembele’s favour last year.
Dembele won the 2025 award by just 2.5% of the vote, leaving Yamal second. The same result was repeated in the Ballon d’Or standings, where Yamal also finished behind Dembele.
Yamal, now 19, returns to the competition after an exceptional season in which he won the World Cup. That success has strengthened his position among the leading candidates and appears to have put him closer than ever to ending his run of second-place finishes.
The voting system gives the Barcelona forward a potentially significant advantage. Unlike the Ballon d’Or, which is decided by journalists, the Onze d’Or is determined through an open poll on the Onze Mondial website. Yamal’s popularity among Barcelona supporters and fans of attacking football could prove decisive.
Supporters can vote for their preferred player through the French magazine’s website.
Onze Mondial’s 11-player shortlist for the 2026 award includes some of the most prominent names in world football. Dembele leads the nominees as the reigning holder, while Yamal is included as last year’s runner-up.
The list also features Georgia and Paris Saint-Germain winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, France forward Michael Olise, England captain Harry Kane, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Joao Neves.
Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe, Arsenal defender William Saliba, Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Vitinha and Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice complete the shortlist.
The award dates back to 1976, when it was won by Netherlands international Rob Rensenbrink. Its history has since become closely associated with Barcelona. Lionel Messi has won the prize four times, more than any other player.
Former Barcelona greats Diego Maradona, Thierry Henry and Ronaldo Nazario have each claimed the award twice. Ronaldinho, Hristo Stoichkov, Antoine Griezmann and Dembele have each won it once.
Barcelona’s influence also extends to the coaching category. Six managers are competing for the 2026 prize, including Luis Enrique and Unai Emery, both of whom have links to the Catalan club.
Barcelona also has a strong record among the winning coaches. Pep Guardiola has collected three titles, while Johan Cruyff won twice and Frank Rijkaard claimed one award.
The club’s presence in the Onze Mondial awards is completed by three nominations for the magazine’s 2026 team of the year: defender Pau Cubarsi, midfielder Pedri and Yamal.
They continue a Barcelona tradition that has previously included Messi, Marc-Andre ter Stegen, Jordi Alba, Ronald Araujo and Samuel Umtiti among the players selected in earlier editions.
