{
  "id": 7560522,
  "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",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-15T12:32:36.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "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 has expressed his support for 19-year-old winger Lamine Yamal's bid to win the Ballon d'Or. Yamal, who won the World Cup with Spain and La Liga with Barcelona last season, believes he deserves the individual accolade.\n\nFlick noted Yamal's self-confidence both on and off the pitch as a key factor in his candidacy. The teenager has scored seven goals in Barcelona's last four games, contributing to the team's impressive start to the season. While Flick would prefer Yamal not to have spoken about the award, he accepts it as a part of the player's self-belief.\n\nYamal previously claimed that he and Real Madrid striker Kylian Mbappe are among the best players in the world, adding weight to his case for the Ballon d'Or. Flick, who believes Yamal deserves the award, stated that his self-confidence is what makes him such a spectacular player to watch.\n\nThe coach acknowledged the difficulty of competing with other world-class players on the list, but expressed his happiness for Yamal if he is chosen. He also mentioned that he is unsure if he will still be managing Barcelona in 2028, when the award ceremony takes place.",
  "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",
        "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."
}