Dani Olmo still gets goosebumps when he recalls the moment Spain were crowned world champions in New Jersey on 19 July, defeating Argentina in a final that the Barcelona midfielder admits he is only beginning to fully process.
Speaking at Barcelona's Joan Gamper training ground, Olmo described the surreal transition from disbelief to realization as the final whistle blew. "There's an image in my mind with Ferran [Torres]'s mum: hugging her, the two of us in tears," he said, recalling the emotional aftermath shared with teammates' families. "When you lift the cup, a little bit more. And then when you see the families... I'm not one to cry, but..."
The 28-year-old, who grew up idolizing Spain's 2010 World Cup winners including Andrés Iniesta and Xavi, says he now understands he belongs to that same elite company. "It's like you've entered another dimension, a very select group," he explained, though he cautioned that the full weight of the achievement may only be understood with time.
Just over three weeks after lifting the trophy, Olmo was back at Barcelona's training base, greeted by head coach Hansi Flick with a simple message: "You're a champion of the world, Dani." Olmo's reply was equally succinct — and then it was straight back to work, this time in pursuit of glory with his club.
Eight of Spain's 26-man World Cup squad play for Barcelona, and Olmo believes the synergy between club and country success stories can work both ways. With Rodri arriving from Manchester City to replace some of the creative and defensive solidity lost when Ferran Torres departed for Paris Saint-Germain, Olmo sees genuine reason for optimism as Barcelona begin another Champions League campaign against Feyenoord at Camp Nou.
Barcelona have not lifted European football's biggest prize since 2015, when Olmo was still a teenager at Dynamo Zagreb. Since returning to Camp Nou in 2024 via RB Leipzig, he has won a domestic treble and a league title, but the Champions League has slipped away — falling to Inter in the semi-finals and Atlético Madrid in the quarter-finals in consecutive campaigns.
Olmo believes those setbacks, along with the confidence generated by the World Cup win, have sharpened Barcelona's mentality ahead of this season's push, which culminates at the Metropolitano in Madrid on 5 June. "The Champions League is decided by small details that haven't gone our way but the last two years were experiences for the future," he said, noting that despite fielding one of the youngest squads in Europe — an average age of just 23.18 in a recent match against Athletic Bilbao — this Barcelona side is maturing quickly.
He drew comparisons between Flick's methods and those of Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, describing both as motivators with similar attacking, possession-based philosophies, though he noted subtle tactical differences, particularly regarding defensive lines.
On the squad's evolution following Robert Lewandowski's departure, Olmo expressed confidence in Barcelona's depth, citing Raphinha's versatility up front along with new arrivals Gabriel Jesus and Hamza Abdelkarim, plus the option of Olmo or Fermín López filling in as a false nine.
He also praised Rodri's fit within Barcelona's system, comparing his positional discipline to that of Sergio Busquets and revealing that Spain teammates may have nudged him toward Camp Nou during transfer discussions over the summer. "He fits perfectly in our play, our system, our idea," Olmo said.
Asked whether Barcelona's players would repeat their city-bike victory tradition — as they did after winning La Liga and again in New York following the World Cup final — Olmo laughed and suggested a disguise might be needed if Barcelona win it all in Madrid come June.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.