Hansi Flick has thrown his full support behind Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or bid after the Barcelona teenager produced another dazzling Champions League performance.
Yamal scored directly from a free kick and created two more goals as Barcelona stormed past Feyenoord 5-1 at a rain-soaked Spotify Camp Nou on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old was once again at the centre of everything dangerous for Barça, adding another statement performance to an already remarkable start to the season.
His latest display came just days after he was named among the 30 nominees for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, with the winner set to be announced in London on October 26.
And Flick has no doubts about where Yamal belongs in the race.
“Of course, he’s my player, a player from Barcelona,” Flick said in a news conference when asked if Yamal should win the coveted individual prize. “He deserves to win the Ballon d’Or. For me, it’s great.
“You can see in every game he’s special. No one has this like him. I think he deserves it.”
The numbers are backing up Flick’s confidence.
Yamal’s free-kick strike against Feyenoord was his 12th Champions League goal, taking him to within one of Kylian Mbappé’s record of 13 goals for a teenager in the competition.
His two assists took his Barcelona career tally to an extraordinary 101 goal contributions, with 54 goals and 47 assists at just 19 years and 58 days old.
That explosive production has helped push Yamal firmly into Ballon d’Or contention after a year in which he won LaLiga with Barcelona and lifted the World Cup with Spain.
However, the competition is fierce.
Mbappé, Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane and several Paris Saint-Germain stars, including reigning winner Ousmane Dembélé, are among the other leading contenders for the prestigious award.
Flick also expressed surprise that two of his own players, Raphinha and Pedri, were left off the shortlist.
“They are too good to not be there,” the German coach added. “But we cannot change it. But they are fantastic players and deserve to be there.”
Raphinha, meanwhile, is making sure his own omission does not affect his performances.
The Barcelona captain scored twice against Feyenoord, while summer arrivals Karim Adeyemi and Gabriel Jesus also found the net. The Brazilian now has eight goals this season and has become the first Barcelona player since 1950 to score in each of the club’s opening five fixtures.
“Raphinha, we saw today, his intensity is great,” Flick said. “When he attacks deep, with the pass from Pedri for his second goal, this is unbelievable.”
Barcelona’s attacking numbers are becoming just as eye-catching.
They have scored five goals in four of their opening five matches, taking their season tally to 22 and fuelling early hopes of finally ending their wait for another Champions League trophy.
Barcelona have not lifted the European crown since 2015, but Flick knows there is still a long road ahead.
“I like a lot what I see, but also I see situations where we have to improve,” he said. “I am really happy about what my players are doing on the pitch, but you always can improve. There is a long way to the end.
“Of course It looks really great. I think we are training really hard, really tough. Everyone has this hunger to improve, to get better.
“This affects the team, how we are doing on the pitch, in the games. This is a great situation. We need this intensity for our philosophy. It’s important for how we press as a team.”
For Yamal, however, the message is already loud and clear. Another breathtaking night has strengthened his Ballon d’Or case, and Flick believes the Barcelona star has something very few players in world football can match.
Toosin is a dedicated sports writer with a strong background in crafting engaging and insightful content. With experience at Goal, he has developed a sharp editorial sense and a refined storytelling approach that brings depth and perspective to sports journalism. His passion for the game goes beyond the headlines, as he captures both the excitement of the sport and the compelling human narratives behind each event. Toosin’s work resonates with a broad and diverse audience, making global sports stories accessible, relatable, and impactful.
