Lamine Yamal charters private jet to London for Ballon d'Or ceremony

Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal has chartered a private jet to bring his family and loved ones to London for the upcoming Ballon d'Or gala, preparing for a potential celebration.

According to Cadena COPE, the 19-year-old superstar organized the trip independently, completely separate from the travel arrangements made by Barcelona. The flight is scheduled to depart on Monday morning so that Yamal will arrive in time for the prestigious awards ceremony, which begins at 9 p.m. at the London Palladium. His crew has reportedly planned a big celebration party in London should he win the Ballon d’Or.

Last year, the Spanish international arranged a similar celebration in Paris, only to leave disappointed when Ousmane Dembélé ultimately won.

Yamal is considered one of the top overall contenders for the Ballon d'Or this year following a highly successful season for club and country. He is also expected to secure the Kopa Trophy (Young Talent of the Year) for a third consecutive year, with his Barcelona and Spain teammate Pau Cubarsi as the main competitor.

Together with his fellow Barca teammates, Yamal has won numerous titles at the club level and was a part of the Spain national team that won the 2026 World Cup.

Barcelona have sent a large delegation to this year's event in London, led by club president Joan Laporta. The club boast a strong presence across multiple nomination categories in both men's and women's football, including Cubarsi, Rodri, Joan Garcia, and Pere Romeu, head coach of Barcelona women's team.