Soccer
Mikel Obi on punditry duties with DAZN. [Photo Credit/ X].
Former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has revealed his choice for the player he believes will win the Golden Ball at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Soccernet.ng reports.
The 23rd edition of the Mundial kicked off on Thursday night, with co-hosts Mexico defeating South Africa 2-0 in a heated encounter that saw three red cards — two to the African side and one to the North American host.
The tournament will be also be staged across the United States and Canada, and will run for several weeks before concluding on July 19, when the final will determine who succeeds Argentina as world champions following their penalty shootout victory over France in 2022.
Soccer Mikel Obi backs Lamine Yamal for 2026 World Cup Golden Ball award
Several players are in contention for the prestigious Golden Ball award, given to the best player of the tournament. Argentine superstar Lionel Messi is the current holder after winning it for a second time in 2022, when Argentina defeated France in the final.
The likes of Michael Olise, Kylian Mbappé, Luis Díaz, Ousmane Dembélé, Bruno Fernandes, and Vitinha have all been tipped by different observers as potential winners ahead of the tournament, with opinions split on who will succeed Messi as winner.
However, with Nigeria not participating in the tournament, former Super Eagles captain John Mikel Obi has backed Spain’s Lamine Yamal as his preferred candidate for the award.
“I have to go with Lamine Yamal”, Mikel Obi revealed.
“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.”
Soccer All eyes on Yamal ahead of World Cup debut
Lamine Yamal has already enjoyed a remarkable rise in his young career since making his senior debut for Barcelona in 2023. At just 18 years of age, he is already regarded as one of the best footballers in the world and even finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or rankings.
At Euro 2024, he impressed on the right wing with his dribbling and creativity and played a key role as Spain went on to win the tournament, where he was awarded the Best Young Player award.
Heading into the World Cup, Spain’s chances are heavily tied to his performances. Yamal has proven he can deliver on the big stage, but consistency with his teammates will be crucial.
However, there are still concerns over his fitness going into the tournament. The 18-year-old has been sidelined since suffering a hamstring injury in April. Although he has returned to training, it remains unclear whether he will be fully match-ready, as he has not played competitive football in recent weeks.
A fully fit Yamal would be a huge boost for Spain, and coach Luis de la Fuente will be hoping to have his young star available and firing as they target their first World Cup title since 2010 and only their second overall.
Fans can follow the ultimate guide for the 2026 World Cup tournament here and will be able to catch a first glimpse of Yamal at the tournament on June 15 when Spain face Cape Verde, in what could mark the start of the youngster’s journey towards a potential Golden Ball win.
Ayomide Oguntimehin
Ayomide Oguntimehin is a CAF-accredited sports journalist and Chief Editor at Soccernet.ng. He has interviewed Super Eagles stars like William Troost-Ekong, Taiwo Awoniyi, Bright Osayi-Samuel, and Ademola Lookman, and is known for breaking major transfer stories.
Ayomide has worked with Sports Brief, Naija News and served as Social Lead Editor at Legit.ng. He has also featured on Goal, TVC News, Sports Mole, and Milan News24. He holds a Master’s degree and is currently pursuing a PhD. Follow Ayomide on X (formerly Twitter): @ayo_oguntimehin
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