Story perspectives

Barcelona’s Yamal, Flick back Ballon d’Or candidacy

By Drooid · Sep 12, 2026, 3:13 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Barcelona Dominates

Barcelona beat Feyenoord 5-1 in the Champions League opener on September 9, 2026.
Raphinha scored twice, becoming the first Barcelona player since 1950 to score in each of the first five league matches.
Lamine Yamal netted a 20-yard free-kick, his 12th Champions League goal, one shy of Mbappé’s teenage record.
Coach Hansi Flick said Yamal deserves the Ballon d’Or and publicly backed his candidacy.

Summary

Deco Demands Inclusion

France Football and UEFA released the 30-player Ballon d’Or shortlist on 8 September 2026.
The shortlist omitted Barcelona forward Raphinha and midfielder Pedri, despite their top-five finishes last season.
Barcelona sporting director Deco called the exclusions a scandal and urged their inclusion.
The Ballon d’Or ceremony will be held in London on 26 October 2026, the first time in the city.

History

Historical Context

When France Football inaugurated the Ballon d’Or in 1956, Stanley Matthews of Blackpool captured the first award, cementing individual honors in European football. The original voting panel comprised five journalists, each assigning points that gave Matthews 114 votes, a modest tally by today’s standards. Similarly, the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist, announced by France Football and UEFA, excludes Barcelona’s Raphinha and Pedri despite their top-five league finishes, echoing past disputes over merit. The controversy pressures governing bodies to refine selection criteria, while Barcelona’s officials, like Deco, demand transparency, echoing calls that reshaped award processes after the 1956 precedent.

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Barcelona Dominates

Barcelona beat Feyenoord 5-1 in the Champions League opener on September 9, 2026.
Raphinha scored twice, becoming the first Barcelona player since 1950 to score in each of the first five league matches.
Lamine Yamal netted a 20-yard free-kick, his 12th Champions League goal, one shy of Mbappé’s teenage record.
Coach Hansi Flick said Yamal deserves the Ballon d’Or and publicly backed his candidacy.

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