Is Barcelona the clear favorite to win La Liga? (0:53) Adriana Garcia 20 September 2024, 09:52 A.M. Lamine Yamal, a teenage star for Barcelona, is regarded by Cristiano Ronaldo as “the best player of this new generation.” The five-time Ballon d’Or winner expressed his admiration for the 17-year-old based on his early performances. In his YouTube channel, Ronaldo said about Rio Ferdinand, “He’s got a huge potential.” “A lot of talent is evident. But let’s wait and watch what transpires on his voyage.
“But I believe he will succeed. He’s going to be this generation’s best player.” After making his Champions League debut on Thursday, Yamal has broken multiple records. On Thursday, he scored Barça’s lone goal in their 2-1 loss to Monaco. Yamal made history as the youngest player to feature at a European Championship and as the youngest scorer in La Liga history at the age of sixteen. At the 2024 Euros, he was named Young Player of the Tournament after assisting Spain in winning the championship. Throughout his six appearances for Barcelona in the 2024–25 season, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal has scored four goals. Image courtesy of Urbanandsport/NurPhoto/Joan Valls via Getty Images
After seeing Lionel Messi play against his team in Sunday’s Catalan derby, Girona coach Míchel Sánchez stated he thinks Yamal can play at the same level as the player. Though honored to be compared to Barca icon Messi, “the greatest player in the history of football,” Yamal believes he wants to be his own player. According to Ronaldo, Yamal is in a position to succeed where he should be. Ronaldo remarked, “He needs luck because he is very young.” “I’m hoping he has no issues [injuries].” He is in a context that benefits him a lot. The Spanish national squad is quite talented.”
The Al Nassr forward has nothing but praise for Jude Bellingham, the midfielder for Real Madrid. The England international helped Los Blancos win La Liga and the Champions League by scoring 23 goals and setting up 13 more goals after joining Ronaldo’s old team Real Madrid in the summer of 2023. He had an incredible debut season at the Bernabéu, earning him the title of La Liga’s greatest player. Ronaldo stated of Bellingham, “I think he is going to be one of the best players of this new generation.” “It’s the same [as Yamal], tremendous potential, incredible talent.
“You visit a clean, well-maintained club where everyone is growing, including [Madrid players] Camavinga, Rodrygo, and Vinícius. Bellingham [is] on a team that I believe will help him develop into a great player.”
