Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has reportedly chartered a private jet to attend the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony in London with his family, close friends and professional entourage, while preparations are also underway for a possible celebration in Paris if he wins football’s most prestigious individual award.
According to Spanish journalist Víctor Navarro of Cadena COPE, the 19-year-old has arranged separate travel for his inner circle so the people closest to him can share the occasion. Rather than travelling with Barcelona’s official delegation, Yamal is reportedly planning to make the journey with his family and other members of his personal team.
The 70th Ballon d’Or ceremony is scheduled to take place at the London Palladium on Monday, October 26. It will be the first time the prestigious awards event has been held in London, adding another historic dimension to this year’s ceremony.
Yamal’s reported travel arrangements underline the importance of the occasion for the young Spaniard, who is seeking to add football’s biggest individual honour to his growing list of achievements.
The Barcelona forward has emerged as one of the leading names in world football following his performances for club and country. His technical ability, creativity and influence in attacking areas have established him among the most closely watched players of his generation.
However, the Ballon d’Or remains a significant challenge, with several established stars also competing for the award. Among the names attracting attention ahead of Monday’s ceremony are Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappé and Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane.
Yamal’s preparations reportedly extend beyond the journey to London. According to reports citing Navarro, the teenager has also organised a potential celebration in Paris with his team and entourage in the event that he wins the award.
The planned gathering is conditional on the outcome of the ceremony and should not be interpreted as confirmation that he expects to win. The final result will be determined by the award’s voting process.
The reports also recall last year’s Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris, when Yamal finished second behind Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembélé. Despite missing out on the main prize, the Barcelona star received the Kopa Trophy, recognising him as the best young player.
That experience makes this year’s ceremony another important milestone in his rapidly developing career. A victory would place him among the youngest winners in the award’s history and represent a major achievement after his rise through Barcelona’s academy into the first team.
Yamal has already enjoyed considerable success at a young age, becoming an influential figure for Barcelona and Spain. His performances at the European Championship helped strengthen his international reputation, while his continued development at club level has kept him in discussions surrounding football’s leading individual honours.
Nevertheless, the award is not decided by reputation or personal preparations. Performances over the relevant assessment period, individual contribution, team achievements and the voting process will determine the winner.
For Yamal, Monday’s ceremony will provide an opportunity to celebrate his progress alongside the family members, friends and professionals who have supported his journey.
Whether the evening ends with the Ballon d’Or in his hands or another award, his reported arrangements show that he intends to share the experience with his closest circle.
Barcelona supporters will now wait to see whether the teenage forward can turn his nomination into the biggest individual triumph of his career so far.
