Former England manager Fabio Capello has shared his perspective on Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, expressing a mix of praise and caution.
The youngster was born in Spain to a Moroccan father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea.
While Capello acknowledges Yamal’s potential and backs him to claim the Ballon d’Or, he remains hesitant to elevate the young talent to the legendary status of football icons Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona.
His comments have sparked discussions in the football community, as Yamal continues to showcase his abilities on the field.
Capello, known for his blunt assessments, described Yamal as a player blessed with quality and considerable room for growth.
However, he tempered expectations by noting that the 17-year-old lacks the unique genius that distinguishes football phenomena.
He referenced Messi and Maradona, highlighting how the two Argentine legends consistently performed actions on the pitch that were both unimaginable and unparalleled.
“Lamine Yamal is a player with a lot of quality and plenty of room to improve, but I don’t see the kind of genius that defines a phenomenon.
“Messi and Maradona did things no one else could even imagine, and right now, I can’t put him in their league.
“I’m not talking about stats, I’m talking about quality and genius. Cristiano Ronaldo is an extraordinary player… And how many goals has he scored? More than anyone. But he still can’t be Messi or Maradona.
“I would vote for Lamine Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or. My top three would be: Vinicius, Mbappé, and number one, Lamine Yamal.”
