FC Barcelona defender Eric Garcia has stated that Lamine Yamal should win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, claiming teammates Pedri and Raphinha also deserve podium spots. Yamal remains a top contender ahead of next month’s award ceremony in Paris.
Garcia expressed total belief in his Barcelona team-mates following their strong start to the LaLiga campaign. Evaluating the final candidate list, the defender insisted that leaving Pedri and Raphinha off the shortlist overlooks their creative influence in Hansi Flick’s high-intensity system. He stated: “For me, the podium should be Barça: Lamine, Pedri and Raphinha. Without a doubt, Lamine has to win, but that Raphinha and Pedri are not there seems incredible to me,”
Beyond individual accolades, Garcia credited Flick for orchestrating a complete career transformation at the club. Under the German manager, Barcelona have refined their positional play through aggressive counter-pressing and fluid movement across half-spaces. Garcia highlighted the coach’s clear communication and revamped physical conditioning routines: “He gave me incredible confidence, even at the beginning, when I wasn’t coming in. This year he is more demanding, we have changed the way we work in the gym,”
That operational development has allowed Garcia to earn consistent starting minutes across several defensive roles. He has now emerged as Barcelona’s primary right-back, getting the nod ahead of international defenders Jules Kounde and Joao Cancelo. Detailing his unexpected positional transition, Garcia noted: “I didn’t even imagine playing in so many positions. He made me see that I could do it and told me that I looked more like a right-back.”
With Yamal competing directly against Real Madrid forward Kylian Mbappe for individual honors, Barcelona are channeling this momentum into their domestic and European campaigns. Balancing squad depth while adhering to strict Limite Salarial restrictions and UEFA’s 70% Squad Cost Ratio threshold remains critical. As fixture congestion intensifies through the autumn schedule, Garcia’s tactical versatility provides crucial coverage for Flick’s ambitions.
