According to a Marca poll, Yamal is leading Mbappe in the race for the 2026 Ballon d'Or, dealing an unexpected blow to the French forward.

Marca asked readers to choose the player most deserving of the trophy from three options: Lamine Yamal, Kylian Mbappe, or other players. So far, Yamal has received 15,516 votes, accounting for 37%; Mbappe has received 11,455 votes, accounting for 27%; and "other players" have received 14,795 votes, accounting for 36%.

Yamal leads Mbappe by 10 percentage points. This result is particularly surprising given that the poll was conducted by a newspaper with a Real Madrid-leaning readership.

The result comes as the two stars have been trading statements about their chances. Previously, Mbappe stated that he deserves the Ballon d'Or. The Real Madrid forward recently said: "I feel this is a good year to win the Ballon d'Or." He also expressed confidence that he had an excellent individual season and is confident about winning the award.

Yamal has also made his position clear, saying he is the most qualified candidate for the trophy. He said: "I feel I deserve it this year because I have won many things."

Yamal's advantage lies in the team honours he has achieved this season, while Mbappe relies more on individual statistics. The comparison between the two has become a hot topic ahead of the Ballon d'Or announcement.

Though the Ballon d'Or has not yet been awarded, Marca's poll has sent a clear message: 37% of participants chose Yamal, while only 27% chose the French star, intensifying the competition between the Barcelona and Real Madrid stars.

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