Mikel Obi Tips Yamal For World Cup Golden Ball Award

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 pitc...