Something has started to change in Lamine Yamal: “He stays after every training session.” An attitude that surprises the new faces at Barcelona’s Ciudad Deportiva —“He’s not the typical talented player. I’m surprised to always see him in the gym,” highlights Anthony Gordon— but also those already accustomed to the genius of Barcelona’s number 10. “When you see him work day to day, you know what will happen in the match. And I really value what I see right now in training,” concludes Hansi Flick. And what the German observes at the Tito Vilanova Field, the Barcelona fans enjoy at Camp Nou. Lamine has seven goals and two assists in his first six games of the season, 40% more contributions than at the start of last season.
After every Barcelona training session, Lamine no longer just stays to shoot at goal. He also practices free kicks and penalties. “He has a lot of quality, but right now he also has a very good level of fitness. He is in a fantastic moment, playing at a great level,” insists Hansi Flick. Lamine needs less to generate more. This season, for example, he has made fewer dribbles (46, 26 successful) compared to last season (61 and 30) to create more goal situations: 22 at the start of the 2026/27 season compared to 12 in 2025/26. That is, his productivity grew by 83%. “Now he knows he can score and you can see it in the matches. He has more chances to score. His confidence in finishing is spectacular,” Flick concludes.
Lamine exploits his football with one goal: to become the best of all. But he is not satisfied with just feeling it, he wants to be recognized. Ultimately, he wants the Ballon d’Or. “Who would I give it to?” Lamine asked in an interview with Jorge Valdano; “to the best player in the world. Who will they give it to? That’s a very long conversation… I honestly believe that the best in the world are two and this year I would deserve it for what I have won. For me, Mbappé and I are the two best in the world. For me it’s clear and everyone who watches the matches knows it.”
Lamine’s brutal honesty does not please Hansi Flick too much. “I think Lamine is sincere, he has that confidence in himself. He is showing how good he is, he is exceptional. Maybe I would prefer it if he wasn’t like that, but he is saying it, he says he wants to win the Ballon d’Or. It is very important to him. He has that feeling and we have to accept it. I will support him,” says the Barcelona coach. He is not the only one at Barcelona pushing Lamine’s candidacy towards the France Football gala to be held next October 26 in London. “He is a genius, he deserves it,” emphasized Laporta.
The president’s words seem sincere. “I would be delighted if he won it,” he added. At least, they seem less forced than Hansi Flick’s: the club had a conversation with the German so that he would show strong support for Lamine. “He is a young player. He is sincere and confident in himself, and I like that. He also shows that confidence on the pitch,” Flick started before the match against Racing (21:30; Dazn).
🗣️Hansi Flick: “Lamine Yamal is in a very good level of fitness. His confidence in finishing is spectacular. He is at a fantastic level. I really value what I see in training” pic.twitter.com/xHyJa2xv7v
Read more Madrid reinvents itself from the north: this is what the capital of the future will be like
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona_es) September 15, 2026
However, the German did not limit himself to the diplomatic formula. “We all want him to keep playing as he is playing and that comes from that confidence he has in himself. That is what Lamine is, and I will support him because it is incredible to have a player like him. If his opinion is that he deserves the Ballon d’Or, I also think he deserves it. He is an exceptional player. I know there are many top-level players, that must be taken into account,” he concluded.
So far, aligned with the official discourse. “But,” he added unable to hide his genius, “they will decide and I will be happy when it’s over.” He couldn’t help but smile. And his gesture ended in the general laughter of the press room at the Ciudad Deportiva.
Flick knows that marketing and football seem to go hand in hand until the players step on the pitch. And on the field, the ball speaks. “For now, it’s in our hands to work hard every day, the results will come. We are focused on that. For me, team titles are more important,” Flick closed.
In some way, Lamine knows this too. That’s why he works more on exploiting his football than on pampering his image. The numbers, for now, back him up. In London it will be known if a statuette also supports him.
