Arsenal and England star Bukayo Saka has commended Lamine Yamal for his exceptional form this season, describing the Barcelona winger as a talent far beyond his years.
Yamal, who has Equatorial Guinean and Moroccan roots, has risen to global prominence after a stellar campaign with Barcelona.
Saka, born to Nigerian parents, is himself a product of similar expectations, but even he appears amazed by the teenager’s level of performance.
Yamal has scored 15 goals and provided 20 assists in 49 appearances in all competitions this season.
He played a decisive role in Barcelona’s recent Copa del Rey final triumph over Real Madrid, registering two assists in the 3-2 win after extra time.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Saka, 23, didn’t hold back his admiration.
“He’s top. Honestly, doing what he is doing at his age, what can you say, he’s unreal. It’s not normal. No one does it. I don’t think I’ve seen that level for a 17-year-old, so credit to him.”
Yamal’s performances have quickly elevated him to elite status, with comparisons already being drawn with some of the greatest young talents in recent football history. His ability to influence games at such a young age, particularly in major fixtures like El Clásico, has earned him widespread plaudits across Europe.
For Saka, who has become one of Arsenal’s most important players since breaking into the first team as a teenager himself, the appreciation is rooted in understanding the pressure and demands that come with early success.
Both players are expected to be key figures for their respective clubs and countries in the years ahead, and Saka’s words serve as a strong endorsement of Yamal’s extraordinary progress on the global stage.