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Lamine Yamal is doing things astatine the property of 17 that is "not normal", according to Toni Kroos, who has besides sent a informing to the Barcelona guardant arsenic helium look acceptable to vie for this year's Ballon d'Or.
The teenage sensation, who was named successful the astir caller Champions League squad of the year, is 1 of the dense favourites to triumph the Ballon d'Or successful September aft a 2024/25 run that featured 18 goals and 21 assists astatine nine level.
He volition look beardown contention from the likes of Ousmane Dembele and Vitinha pursuing their Champions League occurrence with Paris Saint-Germain.
But plentifulness judge Yamal should triumph the prestigious idiosyncratic prize, including Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, who was afloat of praise for the 17-year-old aft helium scored doubly successful their 5-4 triumph implicit France successful the Nations League.
"Lamine Yamal has made a connection contiguous and shown that helium should triumph the Ballon d'Or," De la Fuente told RTVE. "He's the champion subordinate successful the satellite and, successful my opinion, of course, helium deserves to triumph the Ballon d'Or."
Toni Kroos opens up connected his admiration for Lamine Yamal
The erstwhile Real Madrid midfielder heaped praise connected Yamal pursuing different memorable campaign, but besides warned that "success doesn’t lone beryllium connected the pitch".
Speaking to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Kroos said: "I besides made the Bayern archetypal squad astatine 17, but I wasn’t astatine his level, which is spectacular. I’ve ne'er seen thing similar it astatine that age. I’m talking astir the consistency of his performances, due to the fact that the earthy endowment is obvious.
"What makes maine deliberation that this lad is peculiar is his changeless hunt for prominence connected the pitch: successful hard moments, helium ever steps up, and astatine 17 years of age, that is not normal. He was the protagonist of 2 fantabulous seasons, the past 1 adjacent spectacular."
Kroos added: "I person ne'er seen a kid similar him."
Kroos came up against Yamal astatine Euro 2024. Image credit: Getty
Lamine Yamal could go amended than Messi, according to erstwhile Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit
Petit, a erstwhile Arsenal, Barcelona and Chelsea midfielder, believes the entity is the bounds for Yamal arsenic helium commented connected the teenager's tendency to triumph the Ballon d'Or.
Speaking to Escapist Magazine, helium said: "I presume that Lamine Yamal wants to beryllium similar Lionel Messi which is partially wherefore helium wants the 10 shirt. He plays connected the close helping and determination are immoderate similarities, 10 is simply a peculiar fig for Barcelona and helium volition besides beryllium keen to combat for the Ballon d’Or.
"I deliberation the Ballon d’Or is his main crushed for wanting the fig 10, helium is 17 and helium is already reasoning astir it, helium is simply a tremendous footballer. I can’t sanction a subordinate that has been arsenic awesome arsenic him astatine his age, each clip helium touches the shot thing happens. You’d deliberation helium was 28 and successful his prime."
Petit added: "He(Yamal) dribbles past players similar it’s the PlayStation and helium makes defenders look similar cones, helium has specified a precocious ceiling, helium could go adjacent amended than Messi.
"Messi won 8 Ballon d’Ors, Yamal volition person information to spell adjacent further, he’s a joyousness to watch."
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