Xavi Backs Lamine Yamal for Ballon d'Or and Discusses Netherlands Debut

Xavi Endorses Lamine Yamal for Ballon d'Or

Xavi Hernandez, now the head coach of the Netherlands national team, has thrown his support behind Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal to win this year's Ballon d'Or. Speaking at the KNVB headquarters in Zeist before his first match managing the Dutch side against Germany, Xavi described the 19-year-old forward as a talent of his generation.

While recognizing Lionel Messi's impressive World Cup performance, Xavi believes that the achievements of Spain's World Cup winners should take precedence. He expressed absolute certainty that Yamal will soon dominate world football.

Legacy at Barcelona and Praise for Hansi Flick

Reflecting on his time at Camp Nou, Xavi took pride in nurturing academy players such as Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, and Pau Cubarsi who went on to become world champions. He spoke about steadying Barcelona during one of its toughest financial crises over the last quarter-century.

"We did our bit to help this generation achieve things," Xavi said. "If we were able to contribute in some way to the club's recovery during what was practically the worst period in its history, we are already happy. Lamine is special, he's different, he's 19 and he'll undoubtedly win it, but this would be a good year for him to win it now."

The 46-year-old also praised current coach Hansi Flick for maintaining Barcelona's positive momentum.

Shared Football Philosophy Guides Netherlands Role

Turning to his role with the Dutch team, Xavi highlighted the strong tactical links between Dutch football and Barcelona’s traditional positional style. Since settling into the KNVB complex, both players and staff have adapted quickly, often cycling to training sessions.

He explained that the shared focus on attacking and positional play made accepting a four-year contract with the Dutch federation straightforward.

"We have many connections with this country at a footballing level," Xavi remarked. "People want to see attacking, they want to see positional play, the same philosophy we have in Barcelona. I feel this connection."

High-Profile Start Against Germany

Xavi’s tenure kicks off with a UEFA Nations League match against Germany, led by Jurgen Klopp, at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. Despite missing key players like Frenkie de Jong and Xavi Simons due to injury, he remains confident in his squad’s capabilities.

The Netherlands face a challenging group schedule, including matches versus Serbia and Greece, with Xavi eager to establish his tactical vision right away on home soil.

• Competition: UEFA Nations League A
• Match: Netherlands vs Germany
• Date & Time: 24 Sept 2026, 21:45
• Venue: Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam
• Upcoming fixtures: Serbia, Greece