Hansi Flick has opened up on how Lamine Yamal has handled finishing third in the race for the 2026 Ballon d’Or. The Barcelona talent missed out on the award to Harry Kane and was also behind Kylian Mbappe, despite winning La Liga and the FIFA World Cup last season.
Despite labelling Kane as a deserved winner, Flick opined that his opinion on Yamal also being a worthy winner has not changed. The German coach revealed that Yamal has been very focused in training since returning from the Ballon d’Or gala and saluted the 19-year-old’s mentality.
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Speaking to reporters ahead of Barcelona’s clash against Alaves, Flick stated:
“Harry Kane also deserved the Ballon d’Or, but you already know my opinion on Lamine Yamal. He’s been very focused in training, and that’s how champions respond. I am proud of Lamine. He has a top mentality.”
Kane won the award on Monday at the gala held at the London Palladium. The Bayern Munich striker scored 73 goals in 65 games for club and country last season. He finished as Europe’s top scorer and became the fifth English winner of the award, 25 years after Michael Owen won in 2001.
The England captain is also the first Bayern player to take the prize home since Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in 1981.
Barcelona have lost their last two matches, to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League and to Real Madrid in the Clásico. They remain top of La Liga ahead of the clash with seventh-placed Alavés.
Jules Koundé, Eric García and Andreas Christensen are among the absentees.
Harry Kane puts emphasis on working hard as he sends message to the world after Ballon d’Or win
Harry Kane’s own account of the win began by looking back on the years before it. He told DAZN:
“Not many people would have thought it, and maybe even I wouldn’t have thought I’d be this far. I had to bide my time and work hard, a lot of times it was me against my own mind and I had to come through it, I had to show self-belief, determination.”
Kane also thanked his former club Tottenham Hotspur and all the coaches he has worked with over the years. He added:
“It wouldn’t be possible without many people along the way.”
The 33-year-old striker has scored 10 goals and registered seven assists in all competitions this season. He will be hoping to enjoy another successful campaign with Bayern Munich.
Edited by Nived Zenith
