'Best winger in the world' - Robert Lewandowski heaps praise on Lamine Yamal and sends warning to Barcelona wonderkid

Lewandowski is approaching the twilight of his career at the age of 36, especially compared with 17-year-old Yamal. The latter has enjoyed an incredible rise, already making 59 appearances for Barca, and also winning 17 caps for Spain.

Yamal has 11 goals and 14 assists in 59 games for Barca and also has three goals in his 16 caps for Spain, one of which came in the Euro 2024 semi-final against France. And Lewandowski believes he has already established himself as the finest player in his position in the world.

Lewandowski told B/R Football, when asked if Yamal can become one of the best players in the world: "Of course. Now it will be easy to say, of course I see him as the best winger in the world. But of course, he is 17 years old. A football career is so long, sometimes it's not important how you start, what's more important is how you finish or how will be the next years, not two or three years but the next 10-15 years. And in the next 15 years, he will be 32.

"When I see the next generation, they have a huge challenge, from them, in the social media. One day, you are the hero, but the next day, you are on the ground. I wish for him that he will be strong for the long career, and it doesn't matter what the people are saying now, or what the people are going to say, he stays on the ground and thinks 'okay, that is part of my life, the football that I want to enjoy, I want to give the fans a lot of happiness in the end'."

Barcelona are next in action against Osasuna in La Liga. They are looking to extend their perfect start to the season domestically, having won all seven of their league fixtures.