Lamine Yamal is reportedly preparing for a possible Ballon d’Or victory by booking a private jet and planning a celebration in London. The Barcelona star will travel with his family and friends, but a similar plan ended in disappointment last year.
Lamine Yamal Books Private Jet and Plans Ballon d’Or Celebration Ahead of 2026 Ceremony
Lamine Yamal has reportedly made special preparations for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony, booking a private jet and planning a celebration in London before the winner has even been announced.
The 19-year-old Barcelona superstar is one of the leading candidates for football’s most prestigious individual award.
According to reports from Spain, Yamal has decided to travel separately from Barcelona’s official delegation and bring his closest family members and friends with him.
But there is an even more interesting detail.
The Spanish youngster has reportedly prepared a special party in London in case he wins his first Ballon d’Or.
However, this is not the first time Yamal has made such plans before the ceremony.
Lamine Yamal books private jet for Ballon d’Or ceremony
According to journalist Victor Navarro of Cadena COPE, Yamal has already arranged a private jet to travel to London on Monday, October 26.
Spanish newspaper Mundo Deportivo also confirmed the plans in a report published on October 22.
The Barcelona winger is expected to travel with his parents, family members, friends and members of his management team.
Instead of joining Barcelona’s official delegation, Yamal wants the people closest to him to experience this special moment together.
The private flight is expected to leave for London on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, Barcelona president Joan Laporta will lead the club’s official group to the ceremony on a separate flight.
The club will also have several other players attending the event as nominees for different awards.
Special celebration already planned in London
Yamal’s travel arrangements are not the only interesting part of the story.
According to Catalan newspaper ARA, the young forward has also planned a celebration in London if he is named the 2026 Ballon d’Or winner.
The party would allow Yamal to celebrate the biggest individual achievement of his career alongside his family and closest friends.
However, the celebration will only take place if he actually wins the award.
This is an important detail because the plans do not mean Yamal already knows the final result.
There has been no official confirmation that the Barcelona star has been informed about the winner in advance.
His preparations simply show that he is ready to celebrate if his dream becomes reality.
Yamal suffered a similar disappointment in 2025
Interestingly, Yamal made similar preparations ahead of the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony in Paris.
At that time, the Barcelona youngster reportedly organised a party with his family and friends because he believed he had a strong chance of winning.
However, the evening did not go as he had hoped.
Paris Saint-Germain star Ousmane Dembele won the 2025 Ballon d’Or, while Yamal finished second in the voting.
Although Yamal received the Kopa Trophy for the best young player, he missed out on the main individual prize.
According to Mundo Deportivo, the planned celebration did not take place, and Yamal returned home on the same night.
Now, one year later, the 19-year-old has decided to make special arrangements once again.
This time, he hopes the evening will end with his first Ballon d’Or trophy and a celebration with the people closest to him.
Why Yamal believes he can win the 2026 Ballon d’Or
Yamal has established himself as one of the world’s most exciting young footballers.
His impressive performances for Barcelona and Spain have made him a serious candidate for the award.
The winger has continued to show his incredible dribbling ability, creativity and confidence in important matches.
His success with Spain at the 2026 World Cup has also strengthened his position in the race.
However, Yamal faces strong competition from several major stars, including Harry Kane, Kylian Mbappe and Rodri.
Kane enjoyed an outstanding goalscoring season with Bayern Munich, while Mbappe delivered remarkable performances for France at the World Cup.
Rodri also played an important role in Spain’s success, making this year’s competition particularly difficult.
Although some media rankings place Yamal among the favourites, the final decision belongs to the official Ballon d’Or voters.
Barcelona preparing for major Ballon d’Or night
The 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony will take place on Monday, October 26, at the London Palladium Theatre.
For the first time, the prestigious event will be held in London as the award celebrates its 70th anniversary.
Barcelona will have several representatives at the ceremony, including players competing for the main Ballon d’Or and young talent awards.
Yamal is also considered a strong candidate for another young player award.
However, winning the main Ballon d’Or remains his biggest ambition.
If successful, he would become the youngest winner in the history of the men’s award.
Such an achievement would mark another incredible step in his rapidly developing career.
Will Lamine Yamal finally celebrate his first Ballon d’Or?
Yamal’s decision to book a private jet and prepare a celebration has attracted plenty of attention just days before the ceremony.
For some supporters, the arrangements show how confident the Barcelona star feels about his chances.
Others may remember that he made similar plans in 2025 but ultimately watched Dembele receive the trophy.
One thing is clear: Yamal is preparing for the possibility of the biggest individual night of his career.
However, the result remains unknown, and his private celebration will only happen if he wins.
With the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony approaching, football fans are waiting to discover whether his confidence will be rewarded.
After last year’s disappointment in Paris, will Lamine Yamal finally lift the Ballon d’Or in London and celebrate with the family and friends he has brought along for the occasion?
