Deco Backs Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d’Or and Defends Pedri and Raphinha

The great moment Barcelona is enjoying on the pitch can also be felt in the club’s front office. Deco, made it clear that there is enormous confidence surrounding Hansi Flick’s project, while also taking the opportunity to strongly defend several of the squad’s biggest stars.

In an interview with El Món a RAC1 on Thursday, the Portuguese executive discussed the start of the season, the 2026 Ballon d’Or, and the development of several young players who have become fundamental pieces of the team.

And when the conversation turned to Lamine Yamal, Deco left very little room for debate.

Deco Puts Lamine Yamal at the Front of the Ballon d’Or Race

For Barcelona’s sporting director, the 19-year-old has every argument needed to win soccer’s most prestigious individual award.

Lamine Yamal was not only one of the key figures for the Catalan side last season, but he later took his impact to the biggest stage possible by winning the 2026 FIFA World Cup with Spain.

His name is among the 30 candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or, a list that also includes his teammates Pau Cubarsí and Rodri.

For Deco, however, one candidate stands above the rest.

The executive believes Lamine was decisive for Barcelona, stood out above the competition during the LaLiga season, and then added a world title to his résumé. He even compared the situation to the years when Lionel Messi dominated the award: when one player is clearly above everyone else, he suggested, there is not much room for discussion.

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Pau Cubarsí, the “Lamine Yamal of Center Backs”

But Lamine was not the only young player to receive praise.

Deco also hailed the development of Pau Cubarsí, another of the great talents to emerge from the club’s academy who has already established himself as a fundamental piece of Hansi Flick’s defense.

The sporting director went even further by describing the center back as the equivalent of Lamine Yamal at his position.

For Deco, Cubarsí’s growth goes far beyond his technical qualities. He particularly highlighted the defender’s maturity, development, and ability to take on responsibility within the team despite his young age.

His season has also received international recognition: Cubarsí is among the 30 candidates for the 2026 Ballon d’Or and is also in contention for the award recognizing the best young talent.

Deco Cannot Understand the Absences of Pedri and Raphinha

The tone changed completely when Deco analyzed the list of Ballon d’Or candidates.

Neither Pedri nor Raphinha is among the 30 nominees, something Deco finds difficult to justify considering the performances both players have produced for Barcelona.

The absence of Pedri is particularly surprising to the Catalan club’s sporting director. His influence in building play, ability to dictate the tempo, and importance within Flick’s system make him, in Deco’s eyes, one of the best midfielders in world soccer.

The case of Raphinha has not gone unnoticed either. The Brazilian has started the new season maintaining a major role in the attack and is coming off a brace in Barcelona’s 5-1 victory over Feyenoord in its Champions League opener.

That is why Deco described the omission of both players from the list of nominees as a “worldwide scandal.”

A Barcelona Side That Believes Again

Beyond the individual awards, the sporting director’s message also reflects the current mood surrounding the club.

Deco explained that the confidence does not come solely from results, but from what he sees every day in training: attitude, a positive atmosphere, and a squad that appears completely committed to Hansi Flick’s ideas.

The start of the Champions League only strengthened those feelings. Barcelona defeated Feyenoord 5-1, with a brace from Raphinha and goals from Karim Adeyemi, Lamine Yamal, and Gabriel Jesus.

It is still only September and almost the entire season remains ahead, but there is a feeling beginning to grow inside Barcelona.

This team believes it can compete for everything again.

And for Deco, if individual recognition follows, there is one name that should stand above everyone else: Lamine Yamal.