Lamine Yamal situation is 'complicated' as Real Madrid hero warns Barcelona star that 'mistakes' will be made amid teenager's meteoric rise to Ballon d'Or favourite

The Real Madrid captain has defended his Clasico rival and Spanish national team-mate Yamal from his critics by explaining that becoming one of the best players in the world at the Barcelona sensation's age is a "complicated" situation.

Yamal has taken unprecedented strides in the past 15 months. After enjoying a breakout season with Barca, the-then 16-year-old was one of the pioneers of Spain's Euro 2024 triumph. Yamal continued to fly high in a near-historic season, as he scored 18 goals and registered 25 assists in 55 games across all competitions, helping the Catalans win La Liga, Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de Espana. His incredible displays and massive contributions to the collective have seen him become one of the two favourites to lift this year's Ballon d'Or, alongside ex-Barca player Ousmane Dembele.

Speaking on Cadena SER's EL Largueroshow, the right-back said: "People have to understand that it's complicated. He's an 18-year-old kid who's already a key player at a club like FC Barcelona, which is one of the best in the world. He's making a difference, he's signed an important contract, his impact has increased dramatically, and well, in the end, it's not easy to manage.

"He'll make mistakes, as we all have. But, in the end, if you perform on the pitch, give it your all, and then have the quality he has, which is undeniable, then in the end he can become a player who can mark an era."

Despite all the praise, Carvajal seemed to avoid engaging in a Ballon d'Or discussion. "He could be among the candidates for the Ballon d'Or, especially because of his youth," the veteran defender said. "In the end, let's not forget that he's 18, and that I was at Castilla when I was 18, so it's very difficult to make a difference at that age in professional football. Since I'm not going to vote, I'm not going to give it to anyone because I'm not the captain, so I'm off the hook."

Carvajal has so far appeared in Madrid's all three wins to open the 2025-26 La Liga season, of which he started the game against newly-promoted Real Oviedo. Yamal, meanwhile, has continued his breathtaking form, making four direct goal contributions, including two goals. The duo will be expected to play a key role for Luis de la Fuente's Spain, who face Bulgaria on Thursday, followed by a clash against Turkey on Sunday.