La Liga Daily Report - 2026-09-25: La Liga joins calls for fundamental FIFA governance reform

La Liga joined the Premier League, Bundesliga and Serie A in calling for fundamental FIFA governance reform on Friday. In a joint statement, the four leagues said FIFA’s structure was “not fit for purpose” and demanded greater involvement for leagues, clubs, players and national associations. They also called for clearer constitutional boundaries, evidence-based decision-making and a separation between FIFA’s regulatory and commercial functions. The intervention followed the withdrawal of the FIFA Forward Enterprise proposal, which would have opened parts of the governing body’s commercial operations to private investment, including interests connected to the World Cup.

The leagues said the abandonment of FFE had not resolved the conditions that produced the plan. Their statement also sought confidence that individual disciplinary decisions would remain insulated from political interference, an issue highlighted by the controversy over Folarin Balogun’s World Cup suspension. La Liga president Javier Tebas was among the executives to sign the letter, underlining the domestic competitions’ growing opposition to FIFA’s expansion of its commercial and sporting remit. The leagues want candidates in the next FIFA presidential election to endorse a more transparent, inclusive structure rather than offer only limited procedural changes.

Barcelona had won seven consecutive La Liga matches by Friday, scoring 31 goals during the run. The early-season surge gave the champions the strongest attacking storyline among Europe’s leading leagues during the international break, despite the club failing to sign Julián Álvarez from Atlético Madrid. Raphinha had scored 12 of the 31 goals, including back-to-back hat-tricks, after being used in a central role. His deployment followed the departures of Robert Lewandowski, who was out of contract, and Ferran Torres, who moved to Paris Saint-Germain.

The sequence suggested Barcelona had adapted quickly to a changed forward line rather than allowing the failed Álvarez pursuit to define the start of the campaign. Raphinha’s output made him the immediate reference point, while the team’s average of 4.3 goals per match gave the reigning champions an early platform in the title race. The longer international break interrupted that momentum, but Barcelona’s next league fixtures will show whether the prolific opening was a sustained tactical development or a short burst of form.

José Mourinho said Real Madrid players must follow his “non-negotiable” rules as he tries to rebuild the club after returning to the Bernabéu this summer. Speaking on Friday, Mourinho stressed that trust between coach and squad was central to his management, using punctuality as an example of standards that applied equally to every player. His return came after Madrid went two seasons without a major trophy and dismissed Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa last season. The start of his second spell had been difficult, with Madrid six points behind Barcelona and beaten by Atlético in the previous weekend’s derby.

Mourinho presented himself as calmer than earlier in his career, but made clear that discipline remained central to his approach. The comments came at a sensitive point in Madrid’s season, with the derby defeat adding pressure to a side already chasing Barcelona in the standings. His emphasis on collective rules was therefore more than a personal managerial reflection: it outlined the standards he expects to underpin a recovery. Madrid’s response after the international break will provide the first meaningful test of whether that message can translate into results and a tighter title race.

Nico Williams said on Friday that Lamine Yamal deserved to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or after the Barcelona forward’s outstanding season for club and country. Williams, speaking to El Desmarque, pointed to Yamal’s influence beyond conventional statistics and said supporters bought tickets to watch him. Yamal helped Barcelona win La Liga before playing a major role in Spain’s World Cup triumph. He finished the 2025-26 campaign with 25 goals and 20 assists and became the first player to receive three Ballon d’Or nominations before turning 20.

The endorsement added a prominent voice to Yamal’s campaign during the final stage of the voting process. A separate assessment of his case described him as La Liga’s best player and Barcelona’s creative reference point, while noting six goals and four assists in the Champions League. The debate also includes Bayern Munich’s 73-goal Harry Kane, World Cup Golden Boot winner Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s tournament player of the competition, Rodri. Yamal’s argument rests on combining elite production with a creative influence that teammates believe changes the way matches are watched and played.

Jude Bellingham was named England’s men’s senior player of the year for 2025-26 on Friday. The Real Madrid midfielder won the award through a fan vote after scoring a national-record seven goals at the 2026 World Cup. He scored both of England’s goals in their 2-1 comeback victory over Norway in the quarter-final, helping the Three Lions reach third place, their best finish at the tournament since 1966. Bellingham became the fourth English player to receive the award in consecutive years, following previous winners including Harry Kane and Wayne Rooney.

The recognition strengthened Bellingham’s standing as one of the leading figures in England’s post-World Cup side and added an individual honour to his club season. He said it was a major honour to be recognised by supporters again, describing the award as a welcome addition to the summer England had enjoyed. For Real Madrid, Bellingham’s international form offered encouragement at a difficult domestic start, although Madrid were already six points behind Barcelona after losing the Madrid derby the previous weekend.

Raphinha was officially handed Brazil’s No 10 shirt on Thursday after Neymar retired from international football. The Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the squad numbers ahead of the national team’s friendly against Australia in Townsville, with Raphinha also set to feature against India during the international break. The Barcelona winger inherited one of international football’s most recognisable numbers, while Endrick received the No 9 shirt previously worn by Matheus Cunha and Estêvão was assigned No 11. Vinícius Júnior retained his number.

The decision gave Raphinha a new responsibility just as his Barcelona season had begun with a remarkable scoring run. He had scored 12 of the club’s 31 goals across seven successive La Liga victories, including two consecutive hat-tricks, after being used centrally rather than exclusively on the wing. Brazil’s choice therefore aligned an international honour with the most productive spell of Raphinha’s club career. His first appearances in the shirt will be closely watched as the national side adjusts to Neymar’s departure and Barcelona prepare to resume their title defence.