Eric Garcia praises Flick’s trust, backs Lamine Yamal as world’s best, and reflects on Ballon d’Or rankings | OneFootball

While FC Barcelona prepares for their next La Liga clash, one of the players drawing plenty of attention is Eric Garcia. The 24-year-old defender has been one of the most consistent figures for the Catalan club this season, and in a recent interview with the club’s official media (h/t Mundo Deportivo), he spoke about both his personal form and wider footballing topics that have caught his eye.

At the center of the conversation was the 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony, which saw Ousmane Dembele crowned as the winner. Garcia admitted he was happy for his former teammate but felt some of Barcelona’s current stars should have been ranked higher.

“I think Pedri and Raphinha should have been higher, after the season they had. Lamine Yamal, obviously, could have won it. I think everyone knows that. But I also think Dembele had a very good season, especially collectively, because they won many titles. He was our teammate too, and I’m happy for him.”

Even so, Garcia was unequivocal about who he considers the best player in the world right now.

“The best player in the world right now is Lamine Yamal. Lamine is showing incredible talent every day he plays. But I repeat the same thing: I think Dembele also had a very good season.”

Garcia’s resurgence this season has been closely tied to Hansi Flick, whom the defender credits for trusting him and helping him evolve into a more reliable presence.

“Flick has shown me a lot of trust; he has made me play in many positions and has given me a lot of confidence. I think that’s very important for a player.”

The German tactician’s faith has already paid off, with Garcia becoming one of Barça’s most reliable defensive pieces. He is the only defender to have started every La Liga match so far, even covering multiple roles across the back line. His adaptability has strengthened the team at a time when defensive depth has been tested.

Despite the personal praise, Garcia remains grounded when speaking about Barcelona’s objectives for the season.

“I think when you’re at Barça you have to win every title possible, obviously. Last year, we were close. Hopefully, we can repeat the season we had, and if we win the Champions League, even better.”

Eric Garcia also admitted that returning to the Spotify Camp Nou remains a collective dream.

For now, however, the focus remains on domestic competition. Barcelona face Real Oviedo next in La Liga, and to stay on Real Madrid’s tail and to put pressure on them, La Blaugrana will need to do whatever it takes to ensure that they get the three points in the next game.