Barcelona launched their 2026-27 Champions League campaign in remarkable fashion with a commanding 5-1 win against Dutch giants Feyenoord on Wednesday night. Teenage superstar Lamine Yamal stole the spotlight during the rout by shattering an extraordinary European benchmark previously established by Kylian Mbappe.
Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal is relishing his first clash against Feyenoord in the Champions League. The 19-year-old revealed he sought intel on the Rotterdam side from team-mate Frenkie de Jong, who reminded him of his Ajax roots and their fierce rivalry.
With the Lionel Messi-Cristiano Ronaldo duopoly presumably disappearing into the rearview mirror, the battle for the Ballon d'Or hasn't felt so open for the best part of 20 years, with countless players now beginning each campaign believing they have a chance of claiming the most prestigious individual prize football has to offer. Ousmane Dembele emerged from a career plagued by injuries and inconsistencies to win the Golden Ball in 2025, and he is among a crowded field of contenders again in 2026.
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