Dani Olmo says World Cup triumph can fuel Barcelona

Dani Olmo believes Spain’s World Cup triumph can give Barcelona an extra edge in the Champions League, with the midfielder describing international success as a life-changing experience that has strengthened belief inside the club.

A victory that changed everything

Olmo reflected on the emotional weight of becoming a world champion with Spain, saying the full meaning of the achievement only began to sink in after the final moments had passed and he was able to share it with family members and those close to his teammates.

For the Barcelona midfielder, the impact goes beyond a medal or a title. He described it as entering a different level of recognition, joining a select group of Spanish players whose achievements had once seemed distant when he was growing up. The generation that won for Spain in 2010 had long been held up as the standard, and Olmo now sees his own team as having earned a place in that conversation.

Barcelona’s World Cup core

Barcelona had a significant presence in Spain’s squad, with eight players involved, and Olmo feels that shared experience can now be channelled into club football. He pointed to the connection between Barcelona and the national team, arguing that success in one environment can reinforce success in the other.

That continuity matters to him. Olmo spoke about a group shaped by recent success, ambition and a collective mentality, stressing that players contribute whether they are regular starters or not. In his view, that spirit has helped Spain and can also help Barcelona as they chase the biggest prize in European club football.

He also revealed the message from Hansi Flick when he returned after the World Cup: recognition of his new status, followed quickly by a reminder that the focus had to shift back to Barcelona’s objectives.

Champions League remains the target

The Champions League is the competition that continues to define Barcelona’s ambitions. The club have not lifted the trophy for 11 years, and Olmo is part of a generation trying to end that wait.

He returned to Barcelona in 2024 after a journey that took him from the academy to Dinamo Zagreb and then RB Leipzig. In his first season back, he helped the club win a domestic treble, and they followed that by becoming champions again. In Europe, however, recent campaigns have ended in disappointment, with defeats to Inter and Atlético Madrid stopping their progress.

Now another campaign begins, with Feyenoord the first opponent at Camp Nou. Barcelona’s hope is that the confidence gained from Spain’s World Cup success can make a difference in the decisive moments that shape this competition.

Belief, continuity and fine margins

Olmo’s argument is not simply about emotion. It is also about ideas, continuity and the habits of winning. He sees a link between Barcelona’s domestic success and Spain’s international triumph, with both built on a strong core of high-level players who understand what is required.

That is why he believes the World Cup can have a lasting effect on Barcelona’s European challenge. The title has changed his life, he says, but it may also have sharpened the mentality of a squad that already sees itself as capable of competing for the highest honours.