Former Super Eagles captain Mikel Obi has backed Spanish winger Lamine Yamal to win the Golden Ball award at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Recall that Spain will confront Cape Verde on June 15 before facing Saudi Arabia on June 21 and Uruguay on June 26.
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Mikel, via his Obi One podcast, praised the teenager’s confidence and superb performances, naming him his standout player for the tournament in North America.
“I have to go with Lamine Yamal,” Mikel Obi said.
“He’s just amazing. The way he plays, the confidence he plays with, everything he does is just superb.
“I think me and every football fan are looking forward to watching him again, and I think he will be great again.”
Lamine Yamal is expected to be fit and ready for Spain’s World Cup opening match against Cape Verde on June 15. Although a severe hamstring injury sustained in April initially threatened his participation, the Barcelona star has successfully returned to full team training and is progressing well.
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Recovery Timeline
Yamal suffered a left hamstring injury on April 22 during a LaLiga match. While this forced him to miss the final weeks of the club season, the Spanish medical team has carefully managed his rehabilitation.
National team coach Luis de la Fuente has expressed deep optimism, stating that Yamal is training well and, barring any late setbacks, is on track to feature in the debut match.
