Barcelona’s Champions League campaign may have ended in heartbreak against Atlético Madrid, but the performance of Lamine Yamal left a lasting impression on one of the club’s former greats, Neymar.
Despite the disappointment of exiting the competition at the quarter-final stage, Yamal’s emergence as a genuine leader at the age of just 18 has convinced many that he is the heir to the throne at Camp Nou.
A legendary endorsement for a rising star
The teenager, who has frequently cited Neymar as one of his footballing idols, received a glowing review from Neymar.
The Santos forward has rarely been as direct about a young player as he was when speaking about Yamal recently, branding the Barcelona wonderkid’s rise as “unreal.”
Neymar was no stranger to the pressure of being a teenage prodigy himself, has been watching Yamal’s development closely and thinks the Spaniard is destined for the very top of the podium.
The Brazilian icon, who paved his own legendary path at Camp Nou, believes the teenager is destined for the very top of the game.
Neymar puts Yamal in the Messi category
Neymar did not hold back when discussing the potential of the La Masia graduate, placing him alongside the most illustrious names in the history of the club.
Speaking via Fabrizio Romano, the Brazilian expressed his awe at what the youngster is currently achieving on the pitch.
“I truly believe Lamine is one of the greatest teenage sensations [that] soccer’s ever seen,” Neymar mentioned. “There was Leo Messi, there was me — however what this child is doing at 18 years outdated is just one thing unreal.”
Sympathy after Champions League heartbreak
Neymar admitted he felt for the teenager, who was visibly devastated after the ultimate whistle within the match towards Atlético, regardless of particular person shows that almost sparked a well-known comeback for Hansi Flick’s facet.
Yamal’s skill to take duty within the greatest video games has grow to be a trademark of his season, a lot to the admiration of the worldwide footballing neighborhood.
“I felt for him when he bought knocked out of the Champions League,” Neymar added. “Lamine gave every thing, he even sparked the comeback. However that is soccer, something can occur.”
Ballon d’Or and European glory on the horizon
The Brazilian celebrity is satisfied that particular person and collective trophies are a matter of ‘when’ somewhat than ‘if’ for Yamal.
Neymar is already waiting for the following marketing campaign, the place he expects the winger to succeed in even higher heights on the European stage.
“His time is coming! I hope he wins the Champions League subsequent 12 months… and why not the Ballon d’Or too? He’s so particular. A kind of gamers I’ll all the time be rooting for, for certain,” Neymar concluded.
