As the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway, former Nigeria midfielder John Mikel Obi has already made his choice for the tournament’s most coveted individual prize.
While the opening match saw co-hosts Mexico defeat South Africa 2–0 on Thursday night, Mikel’s attention is firmly fixed on a teenage phenomenon from Spain.
In a recent interview, the ex-Super Eagles captain dismissed the usual suspects—Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Harry Kane, and Cristiano Ronaldo—as his favourites for the Golden Ball, awarded to the tournament’s best player. Instead, he threw his weight behind Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal.
“I have to go with Lamine Yamal,” Mikel stated. “What he does on the pitch is simply amazing. The confidence he plays with, the way he glides past defenders—everything about his game is superb. I believe every football fan out there is excited to watch him again, and I’m convinced he will shine once more on this big stage.”
The 2026 World Cup, jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will crown its champion on July 19 after more than five weeks of action.
With many of football’s ageing legends likely playing in their final World Cup, Yamal represents a new generation. Mikel’s prediction adds to a growing chorus of pundits who believe the 18-year-old could define the tournament—just as Pelé did in 1958 and Mbappé in 2018.
Whether Yamal can live up to the billing remains to be seen, but Mikel Obi has placed his bet early
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