'It's mad, innit?' - Cole Palmer crowns Lamine Yamal as world's best player with Chelsea star pouring praise on Barcelona wonderkid

Yamal, who made his senior breakthrough at 15, continues to dazzle audiences across the globe and rewrite the history books at 17 years of age. He netted another stunning goal for Barca as they claimed the 2024-25 La Liga title with a 2-0 derby victory over Catalan rivals Espanyol.

The precociously-gifted teenager is already a European Championship winner with Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy honours to his name. It is considered to be only a matter of time before he secures a first Ballon d’Or.

That could happen in 2025, with England international Palmer of the opinion that Lamal is already at the top of pecking order. The Chelsea playmaker told Sky Sports: "It's mad, innit? I think he's the best player in the world, to be honest.

"I feel like everything they do just goes through him, and just when you watch him, just... Mad. You can tell the way he plays that he's confident and he's got no fear, and I love watching him."

Palmer boasts plenty of creativity himself, as a PFA Young Player of the Year winner, but added when asked how hard it is to play with such confidence and swagger at 17 years of age: "I don't know... I've never tried it."

Yamal has helped Barca to a domestic La Liga, Copa del Rey and Super Cup treble in 2025 and will be turning his attention to more international success in June when forming part of Spain’s squad at the UEFA Nations League finals.