Ballon d'Or 2026: Hansi Flick takes the opposite stance to Mourinho

As the 2026 Ballon d'Or election approaches, several FC Barcelona players are among the contenders for the prestigious individual award. Lamine Yamal, Rodri, Pedri, and Pau Cubarsí are specifically mentioned as serious candidates.

When questioned about this race before the La Liga match against Rayo Vallecano, Hansi Flick preferred not to take a position. The German coach did not wish to single out any player from his squad, believing that his role was not to campaign for an individual trophy.

"It's not my job to campaign for the Ballon d'Or. Of course, we have some very good players in our team. But I'm not really a big fan of these individual awards," explained the Barcelona coach.

For Flick, collective performance must take precedence above all else. According to him, however, team success is a significant asset for players when it comes to achieving individual accolades.   "When the team succeeds, the chances of winning these awards are inevitably greater," he added.

The Barça coach also highlighted the richness of Spanish football, which he said made choosing a single candidate particularly difficult.   "In Spain, there are many very good players and it's not easy to choose one," he concluded.

Hansi Flick has thus maintained a certain distance from the Ballon d'Or debate, despite several of his players being among the contenders for the award. This stance contrasts with that of José Mourinho, who has openly voiced his support for Kylian Mbappé.