2026 Ballon d'Or: He's favourite - Deco names player to win award
Deco says the 19-year-old was decisive for Barcelona and Spain after helping the club win LaLiga and the Copa del Rey.
- Barcelona sporting director Deco criticized Ballon d'Or organizers on Tuesday for excluding Pedri and Raphinha from the 30-man shortlist, calling the decision 'a scandal.'
- Despite Barca winning the Copa del Rey and LaLiga titles last season, Deco argued both players 'absolutely deserved to be there' given the club's domestic success.
- The 19-year-old Yamal was 'decisive' in the year under review and contributed to Spain's 2026 World Cup victory in North America, bolstering Deco's case.
- Speaking with RAC1, Deco insisted 'Lamine should be the favorite for the Ballon d'Or,' citing his achievements with Barca and the national team.
- The winner of this year's Ballon d'Or will be announced at an event in London on October 26, settling the debate over Yamal's candidacy.
10 Articles
10 Articles
“It’s a worldwide scandal” - Barcelona chief Deco hits out at Pedri and Raphinha missing out on Ballon d'Or shortlist
Barcelona sporting director Deco minced no words about the exclusion of attacker Raphinha and midfielder Pedri in the 30-man Ballon d'Or shortlist announced by France Football earlier this week.
2026 Ballon d'Or: A scandal - Deco blasts organisers for snubbing two players
Barcelona sporting director, Deco, has hit out at the organisers of the Ballon d’Or for excluding two of the club’s players from the 30-man nominees’ shortlist released on Tuesday. The duo of Pedri and Raphinha are two of the notable names that were left out. Barca only have Lamine Yamal included in the shortlist, despite the […] 2026 Ballon d’Or: A scandal – Deco blasts organisers for snubbing two players
The sporting director of FC Barcelona, Deco, is very clueless as to why Pedri and Raphinha are not among the 30 nominees for the Ballon d'Or award. This is what he describes in an interview with RAC1
Deco, Barça's sporting director, believes Lamine Yamal should be the favourite to win the Ballon d'Or.
Raphina has been looking at a season of superlatives so far: the captain of FC Barcelona is standing at eight goals after five mandatory matches. The 29-year-old follows on from the 2025/26 season, in which, despite some injury problems, he contributed 29 goals (21 goals/8 assists) in 33 games. Performances, however, are not enough to have a chance at the Ballon d'Or 2026. A circumstance that makes Barca sports chief Deco wreak.
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