Former Real Madrid boss backs Barcelona forward for Ballon d’Or glory | OneFootball

Lamine Yamal has been the talk of the football world after a brilliant season with Barcelona. At just 17, he has impressed fans, teammates, and coaches alike. However, not everyone sees him as the next big “phenomenon” just yet.

Former Real Madrid boss Fabio Capello recently spoke about the young star’s potential and made it clear that, while he rates him highly, he does not believe Yamal has reached the level of legends like Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona.

Capello said, “Lamine Yamal is a player with a lot of quality and can improve a lot, but I don’t see him as a phenomenon. Messi or Maradona did things that no one could have imagined, but right now I can’t compare him to them,”

Capello’s comparison to Ronaldo and the greats

Capello made a clear point about the difference between being great and being a football genius. He compared Yamal’s current level to that of Cristiano Ronaldo, saying,

Capello would vote for Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

“I’m not talking about statistics. I’m talking about genius and pure quality. Ronaldo is an incredible player who has scored more goals than anyone. But even he isn’t Messi or Maradona.”

Despite this, Capello still believes Yamal deserves major recognition. In fact, when asked about the Ballon d’Or, he named Yamal as his top pick. “I would vote for Lamine Yamal for the Ballon d’Or. My votes would be: Vinicius, Mbappe and, first, Lamine Yamal.”

A bright future ahead

Capello’s comments may seem critical, but they come from a place of respect and honesty. He sees Yamal as a talented player who still has a long journey ahead.

Being compared to legends like Messi and Maradona is no small thing, and Capello’s view simply sets a fair bar for the youngster.

Yamal has already made a name for himself at Barcelona. If he keeps working hard and improving, he could well become the star Capello—and the football world—hopes he will be.

Source: Mundo Deportivo