Xavi Hernández was asked about the 19-year-old on the eve of his managerial debut with the Netherlands, and his verdict was unequivocal.

“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,” he told reporters at the KNVB Campus in Zeist.

The 2026 Ballon d’Or is decided on 26 October at the London Palladium, the first time in the award’s 70-year history it leaves Paris.

Xavi claims a share of Barcelona’s revival

Xavi handed Yamal his senior minutes during his own spell in the Camp Nou dugout, and on Wednesday he reflected on the club’s recovery under his successors.

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“We did our bit to help this generation achieve things,” he said at the same press conference.

“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.”

Hansi Flick, whose Barcelona side won La Liga last season, was praised for keeping the academy pipeline running. Xavi’s own tenure at Camp Nou ended in the summer of 2024.

First foreign Netherlands coach since Happel

The endorsement lands from an unusual place. Xavi is speaking as head coach of one of Spain’s main rivals, appointed in August on a contract that runs to 2030 and replacing Ronald Koeman after the Netherlands’ 2026 World Cup exit.

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He is the first foreigner to coach the Oranje since Austrian Ernst Happel in the late 1970s. His first opposition is Klopp, also making his competitive debut as Germany boss after Julian Nagelsmann resigned in the wake of Germany’s round-of-32 defeat by Paraguay.

Xavi will be without Frenkie de Jong and Xavi Simons, both ruled out by injury.

A shared style with Dutch football

Xavi has also framed his arrival around shared footballing culture.

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

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The match is at the Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam.

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