Xavi Backs Lamine Yamal for Ballon d'Or, Reflects on Barcelona Legacy and Netherlands Debut
Xavi Hernandez, the new head coach of the Netherlands national team, has thrown his support behind Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal as a frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or. Speaking at the KNVB headquarters in Zeist before his first match in charge against Germany, Xavi praised the 19-year-old forward as an exceptional talent of his generation.
Despite acknowledging Lionel Messi's impressive World Cup performance, Xavi believes the Spanish World Cup winners deserve primary recognition. Still, he expressed strong confidence that Yamal will soon become a dominant figure in world football.
Former Barcelona Coach Proud of His Influence
Reflecting on his time at Camp Nou, Xavi took pride in nurturing academy players such as Lamine Yamal, Fermin Lopez, and Pau Cubarsi, who have risen to world champion status. He noted his role in helping stabilize Barcelona during a financial crisis considered one of the toughest in the club's recent 25 years.
"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 momentum on the pitch.
Shared Philosophy Strengthens Netherlands Project
Moving focus to his new role with the Dutch national team, Xavi highlighted the strong tactical connection between Dutch football and Barcelona's traditional style of positional play. Since settling at the KNVB complex, both players and staff have adapted well, often cycling to daily training sessions.
"We have many connections with this country at a footballing level," Xavi explained. "People want to see attacking, they want to see positional play, the same philosophy we have in Barcelona. I feel this connection."
Netherlands Kick Off With UEFA Nations League Clash
Xavi’s tenure begins with a high-profile UEFA Nations League match against Jurgen Klopp’s Germany, hosted at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam. Despite key players like Frenkie de Jong and Xavi Simons being sidelined with injuries, Xavi remains confident about his squad’s competitive strength.
The Netherlands face a demanding group schedule, including upcoming matches against Serbia and Greece. Xavi aims to establish his tactical identity quickly on home turf.
- Match: Netherlands vs Germany
- Date: 24 September 2026
- Time: 21:45
- Venue: Johan Cruyff Arena, Amsterdam
- Upcoming fixtures: Serbia, Greece
