Deco and Hansi Flick endorse Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d'Or

FC Barcelona sporting director Deco identified Lamine Yamal as his primary candidate to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or. Deco stated he holds no doubts about the winger's suitability for the award, citing his key role in the club's recent La Liga campaign and his performance following an injury. Manager Hansi Flick supported the assessment following a 5-1 victory over Feyenoord, calling the player exceptional. Beyond the endorsement, Deco criticized the exclusion of teammates Pedri and Raphinha from the 30-man nominee list, labeling the omission a global scandal. The sporting director expressed frustration with the process for individual accolades, noting the difficulty of singling out players in a team sport. Lamine Yamal remains among the finalists competing against names such as Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr., and Lionel Messi.

• 12:20 PMYahoo Sports — Barcelona director backs Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or: ‘I see no doubt about it’