(foto: Getty Images)
Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo sees immense potential in Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal. It’s noteworthy that Yamal made his first-team debut even earlier than CR7 and Lionel Messi.
Lamine Yamal has started the new season at Barcelona in excellent form, and tonight, alongside his teammates, he faces Monaco in the Champions League. The 17-year-old winger is no longer a secret, having also impressed during the summer at the European Championship, where he helped Spain win the title and was named the best young player at the tournament in Germany.
Even one of the greatest footballers of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo, is excited about the young Catalan and sees him as a future star.
"I see a lot of talent in Lamine Yamal. I hope he avoids any difficulties in the future, and if so, he will undoubtedly be among the best players of the new generation," Ronaldo said in a conversation with Rio Ferdinand on his YouTube channel.
For comparison, Lionel Messi made his debut for Barcelona at the same age as Yamal. However, Yamal has already made 72 appearances at the senior level (both for his club and national team). Cristiano Ronaldo also debuted at 17 for Sporting Portugal. He made his debut for the national team at 18.
It’s worth noting that Yamal celebrated his 17th birthday during the European Championship, entering the tournament as a 16-year-old boy.