Monchi backs Lamine Yamal for the 2026 Ballon d'Or: 'He would deserve it'

The 2026 Ballon d'Or race is taking shape and Monchi, Espanyol's sporting director, has made his position clear. Speaking at the launch of the fifth Reyes Cup in Seville, the Andalusian executive backed Lamine Yamal to claim the award, while admitting the decision will be harder than ever.

• Monchi picks Lamine Yamal as his Ballon d'Or candidate, leaning on his Spanish allegiance.
• The Espanyol sporting director believes Mbappé and Harry Kane also have serious chances.
• He warns it will not be an easy edition and says the final result will generate controversy.
• He used the Reyes Cup event to honour José Antonio Reyes and discuss his new chapter at Espanyol.

Monchi breaks down the 2026 Ballon d'Or race

For Monchi, the battle for the next Ballon d'Or is not a two-horse race. The former Sevilla sporting director believes at least four players have a realistic chance of lifting the trophy, although his personal choice points to Barcelona's winger.

It is complicated. I think there is a shortlist of four players in contention. If I go with being Spanish, I would say Lamine deserves it. But I imagine the French will think Mbappé deserves it and the English will think Harry Kane does. It is not an easy edition and it will cause controversy.

The Espanyol executive understands that voting also carries a national dimension. Fans and journalists from each country tend to lean towards their own stars, something he believes will make the outcome even more unpredictable. Kylian Mbappé and Harry Kane are part of that conversation as the other leading contenders, while Monchi leaves the door open for a fourth name to complete the shortlist.

José Antonio Reyes honoured at the Reyes Cup

The tournament presentation also served as a moment to remember José Antonio Reyes, the figure honoured by this competition. Monchi acts as the event's figurehead, keeping alive the legacy of the Utrera-born player, who passed away in 2019.

Talent emerges through hard work, but talent like José Antonio's, which does not need to be worked on, is very hard to find. It is very hard to find because it was so innate.

Reyes left his mark at clubs including Sevilla, Arsenal, Real Madrid, Atlético de Madrid and Espanyol. His bond with Monchi was especially close during their time together at Sevilla, where they shared some of the most successful years in the club's recent history.

Monchi settles into his new role at Espanyol

Beyond the Ballon d'Or and the tribute to Reyes, Monchi also discussed his current professional situation. He arrived at RCD Espanyol as general sporting director and his early assessment could not be more positive, although he acknowledges the team needs more points in the table.

The executive splits his time between San Fernando and Barcelona, with a much greater presence in the Catalan capital. The club and its fans have welcomed him in extraordinary fashion, in his own words, and he says he is happy with the atmosphere he has found.

Espanyol looking beyond short-term results

Monchi is not thinking only about survival or immediate results. Espanyol is going through a transformation process with an ownership group that arrived relatively recently, and the sporting department's work spans several fronts at once.

The goal is to build a solid project for the medium and long term, without neglecting the urgent needs of the present. That balance between immediate demands and long-term planning defines the daily work of a Monchi who appears to have found the ideal environment in Barcelona to carry out his job.

Frequently asked questions about the 2026 Ballon d'Or