{
  "id": 7553844,
  "title": "Flick backs ‘self-confident’ Yamal’s Ballon d’Or bid",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/flick-backs-self-confident-yamals-ballon-dor-bid",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-09-15T12:32:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today-freemalays",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/09/15/flick-supporting-self-confident-yamal-ballon-d-or-bid"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Barcelona coach Hansi Flick declared his support for 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal's bid for the Ballon d'Or award on Tuesday. Yamal, who won the World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona last season, expressed confidence in his own abilities in an interview with Movistar. He stated he believes he is one of the two best players in the world, alongside Kylian Mbappe. Flick noted Yamal's self-confidence, both on and off the pitch, as a key factor in his exceptional performance. Although Flick would have preferred Yamal not to have voiced this belief, he accepts it as part of the young forward's self-belief. The coach also mentioned Yamal's impressive goal-scoring streak in Barcelona's last four games, which has helped the team maintain a perfect start to the season.",
  "summary": "Barcelona coach Hansi Flick says he will support teenage winger Lamine Yamal's Ballon d'Or bid, praising the player's 'self-confidence' on and off the pitch.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "IOL",
        "title": "Ballon d’Or 2026: Yamal, Mbappé and PSG step up campaigns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/ballon-dor-2026-yamal-mbappe-and-psg-step-up-campaigns",
        "published": "2026-09-15T12:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Flick backs ‘self-confident’ Yamal’s Ballon d’Or bid",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/15/flick-backs-self-confident-yamals-ballon-dor-bid-7560522",
        "published": "2026-09-15T12:32:36.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}