Laporta stands by Lamine Yamal after Ballon d'Or snub, calls for calm following Clasico loss

A night that could have crowned Lamine Yamal instead turned into a lesson in patience. The 19-year-old winger finished third in the Ballon d'Or rankings, just days after his team had stumbled at Camp Nou against its fiercest rival. Two blows in a matter of days. And there was Joan Laporta, in London, trying to calm the waters on both fronts.

Barcelona's president traveled with the player to the ceremony for soccer's most prestigious individual honor, and once it wrapped up, he spoke with reporters on hand. He didn't hold back, making clear that in his view, Yamal's wait for the trophy has an expiration date, even if he doesn't know exactly when it will arrive.

I'm convinced he'll end up winning the Ballon d'Or. I don't know when, but he's earned it.Joan Laporta

The club chief, reelected to a third term this past March, went further still, urging everyone to view the result as fuel rather than a personal defeat for the academy product.

To me, he's done enough to deserve the Ballon d'Or, but the voters decided otherwise. We accept that with sportsmanship. Let this serve as motivation for him personally, because I'm sure it will. All his teammates will help him get past this disappointment quickly.Joan Laporta

Laporta also wanted to put Yamal's achievements into perspective given his age, pointing out that this journey began when the forward was still just 16 years old.

What Lamine has done since he was 16 is unique, and that carries enormous merit. He deserves everything, and all of us together will help him stay even more motivated to win this award next year.Joan Laporta

The other blow: defeat in the Clasico

But the weekend had left another open wound. Hansi Flick's Barcelona fell 2-1 to Real Madrid at Camp Nou, and Laporta addressed that as well. Rather than reaching for excuses, the president chose a message of composure, pointing to the team's strong start to the league season.

We accept it with sportsmanship and let it motivate us to push forward. Our expectations for this season remain fully intact. We started the season very well and we'll keep it that way, I'm certain of it.Joan Laporta

The message came paired with explicit backing for both the coaching staff and the locker room, along with a call for calm among supporters.

This will help us learn from our mistakes and improve where we need to improve. Honestly, I remain proud of my players and my coach, and Barca fans can rest easy.Joan Laporta

So where does this leave the standings? Despite the setback, Barcelona remains atop LaLiga with 27 points, though the cushion has shrunk. Atletico Madrid, which beat Deportivo de La Coruna, cut the gap to just two points. Real Madrid, meanwhile, sits one point behind its crosstown rival. Far from settled, the title race keeps tightening.