"I see him as the best winger in the world" - Barcelona superstar hails teenage sensation Lamine Yamal
Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has hailed his teenaged teammate Lamine Yamal as one of the best wingers in the game. The 17-year-old has had a record-breaking start to his career with Barca.
Having made his senior debut in the 2022-23 season, Lamine Yamal became a key member of Xavi's side last season, contributing seven goals and nine assists in 50 games across competitions.
Continuing his sterling exploits with Spain at Euro 2024, the teenager bagged a goal and four assists in seven games as La Roja became the first four-time European champions.
Following a slow start to the current campaign, Lamine Yamal has come into his own in recent games, drawing high praise from Lewandowski, who told B/R Football (via GOAL):
"It will be easy to say; of course, I see him as the best winger in the world. But, of course, he is 17 years old. A football career is so long; sometimes, it's not important how you start, what's more important is how you finish or how will be the next years, not two or three years but the next 10-15 years. And in the next 15 years, he will be 32."
The Pole continued:
"When I see the next generation, they have a huge challenge, from them, in the social media. One day, you are the hero, but the next day, you are on the ground.
"I wish for him that he will be strong for the long career, and it doesn't matter what the people are saying now, or what the people are going to say, he stays on the ground and thinks 'okay, that is part of my life, the football that I want to enjoy, I want to give the fans a lot of happiness in the end'."
Lamine Yamal has four goals and five assists in eight games across competitions this season for Hansi Flick's La Liga leaders, with three of the goals and all five assists coming in the league.
How has Lamine Yamal's teammate Robert Lewandowski fared for Barcelona this season?
Barcelona hitman Robert Lewandowski has had a superb start to the new season after a rather quiet 2023-24 campaign. In eight games across competitions, the 36-year-old has seven goals and two assists.
All nine goal contributions have come in seven games in the league - with Barca winning them all to go four points clear of second-placed defending champions Real Madrid.
Lamine Yamal's teammate has now tallied a rich haul of 66 goals and 19 assists in 103 games across competitions for Barcelona - whom he joined in the summer of 2022.