Lamine Yamal speaks out when compared to Ronaldo

Following his achievement as the “Best Forward of the Year” at the 2025 Globe Soccer Awards, Lamine Yamal emphasized that he wishes to forge his own path rather than be seen as the “next Ronaldo.”

Barcelona’s young talent, Lamine Yamal affirmed that he does not want to be compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, despite being honored as the “Best Forward of the Year” at the Globe Soccer Awards 2025 held in Dubai.

Speaking after receiving the award, the 18-year-old Spanish prodigy shared: “It’s best not to compare yourself to anyone. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo became great because they were true to themselves, not by copying others. I want to follow my own path as well.”

At just 18, Yamal is making significant strides toward becoming one of the world’s biggest football stars. His career is progressing at an astonishing pace. At only 16, Yamal played and scored at EURO 2024, becoming the youngest player ever to do so, and shortly after turning 17, he helped Spain win the championship.

Less than 18 months later, Yamal continued his success by finishing as runner-up in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting, second only to his former teammate Ousmane Dembele, who also won the Best Male Player award. Additionally, the Barcelona star earned two prestigious awards in Dubai: “Best Forward” and the Diego Armando Maradona Award for the outstanding young player.

Despite frequent comparisons by the media to legendary players like Ronaldo and Messi, Yamal remains humble and focused on his own journey. He wants to be remembered as Lamine Yamal, not as anyone’s “successor.” On his social media, after missing out on the Ballon d’Or, Yamal wrote: “God’s plan is always perfect. To reach the top, you must climb step by step. I’m happy to win my second Kopa Trophy and congratulate Dembele on an amazing season.”

Barcelona is currently leading La Liga and aiming to conquer the Champions League after nearly a decade of waiting. With his current form and ambition, Yamal is expected to continue writing a new chapter in his career, establishing his name through his own talent and courage on what he calls “Lamine Yamal’s own path.”