Barcelona coach Hansi Flick has thrown his support behind Lamine Yamal's bid to win the Ballon d'Or, praising the young winger's self-confidence both on and off the pitch. Yamal, who won the World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona last season, recently declared his belief that he deserves the prestigious individual accolade. The 19-year-old forward has scored seven goals in Barcelona's last four games, helping the team maintain a perfect start to the season.
In an interview with Movistar, Yamal claimed that he and Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe are the two best players in the world, asserting that his team's success should place him at the top when the award is decided on October 26. Flick acknowledged Yamal's confidence, stating, 'I think he's honest, has the self-confidence and shows in the beginning of the season how good he is.'
Although Flick would have preferred Yamal not to speak publicly about his ambitions, he understands it as a part of the winger's self-belief. 'He's exceptional and it's a part of this... I would not prefer this, but he's doing this. He has self-confidence, he wants to win the Ballon d'Or,' Flick told reporters. The coach also highlighted Yamal's spectacular performances, noting his debut for the club at 15 and his runner-up finish in last year's Ballon d'Or award behind Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele.
Flick believes Yamal's confidence is a key factor in his success. 'He also shows his self-confidence on the pitch and for us this is important. We all want him to play how he plays, and this is a style of confidence. One against one, or two, or three... everyone in the stadium goes 'wow'. This is Lamine and I will support him.'
With several world-class players in contention, the race for the Ballon d'Or is expected to be fierce. Bayern Munich and England striker Harry Kane is also among the favorites to win the award. As Barcelona prepares to face Racing Santander at Camp Nou, the team aims to continue their perfect start to the season. Additionally, UEFA announced that Barcelona's rebuilt stadium will host the Champions League final in 2029.
Flick, whose contract with Barcelona ends in 2028, remains uncertain about his future with the club beyond that date. 'I'm 100 percent there... as a coach or as a supporter of Barca,' he said. 'We never know what happens. Football is very fast. I enjoy staying in Barcelona, coaching Barca, this is a fantastic team, but in the end you don't know what happens.'
