Robert Lewandowski tips Lamine Yamal to win Ballon d’Or but sends out strong warning to Barcelona wonderkid

At just 17, Yamal has already cemented himself as a marquee player for Barcelona. The young forward has racked up an impressive seven goals and 11 assists in 22 appearances this season. His performances have not been confined to club football as Yamal played a pivotal role in Spain’s victory at the 2024 UEFA Euro, contributing one goal and four assists. Such achievements have placed Yamal in the spotlight, with fans and pundits alike hailing him as a generational talent. In the recent, Spanish Super Cup semifinal, he was on target again and emulated Neymar's famous 2013 celebration that went viral among fans.

In an interview with ESPN, Lewandowski lauded Yamal’s immense potential and backed him to win the Golden Ball award in the future.

"It could be (Ballon d'Or), yes, for sure. It could be for sure. I'm not the kind of person who likes to speak very well of players because sometimes if I speak, I was speaking well of some players and later on they are falling," he said.

"Sometimes it's better to talk about maybe trying to find things a little bit worse, but it's difficult to talk about Lamine. But I'm sure he will be like the best players in the world and that he will have a great future."

What stands out to Lewandowski is not just Yamal’s technical brilliance but his composure, despite being just 17 years old.

"When I think about Lamine...He's still only 17 and he's playing like someone who's 25, 26, with his experience on the pitch, you see that he's not a player like the youngsters," he said.

"I'm not going to talk about his talent, because everyone knows how talented he is. But how is he growing? For the future, just what I try to tell him for the future, not for the next 2 or 3 years, but for the next 10 or 15 years. For me, I think right now the people around him are very important so that he doesn't grow too fast. I mean, not on the field, but I think in everything around the field."

Despite his glowing assessment, Lewandowski issued a stark warning about the challenges that come with fame and success in football.

"I hope the people around him can help him, even if he doesn't know what can happen yet. Football is brutal sometimes and you have to be prepared for it," he said. "I'm sure the path he's following is exactly the best for him. It's difficult. It's difficult. That's his job, but in the next three, four years, they have to keep everything under control and on the ground. Because talent helps you at the beginning of your career, but later on, the mentality helps you not to be at the top, but to stay at the top."

As Barcelona prepares for the Spanish Super Cup final against Real Madrid, Yamal has the chance to secure his first major trophy of this campaign. The young forward is expected to play a significant role in Sunday’s clash, with Barcelona banking on his creativity and flair to outwit their arch-rivals.