Marcus Rashford has publicly praised Lamine Yamal, revealing a private conversation with the Barcelona star prior to his return to Manchester United. Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, the England international admitted that he reached out to Yamal before the recent Ballon d’Or ceremony to offer personal encouragement. Rashford, who won La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup with the Catalan club, stated that he has never encountered a player of such extraordinary ability at such a young age. He emphasized that his comments were not a post-award compliment but a pre-emptive acknowledgment of Yamal’s superior talent compared to any teammate he has ever shared the pitch with.
The England star compares the 19-year-old to Messi, predicting a historic Ballon d’Or run.
Rashford drew a bold historical comparison, declaring Yamal the closest modern equivalent to Lionel Messi. “I’ve never said this out to the media before, but for me, he’s the closest somebody can get to the level of Messi over the years,” Rashford said. He cited Yamal’s current Ballon d’Or rankings—finishing second, third, and eighth in recent cycles—as evidence of his consistent elite status despite being only 19 years old. By highlighting these specific statistical achievements, Rashford underscored the anomaly of a teenager consistently challenging the game’s most decorated veterans for the footballing world’s highest individual honor.
The Manchester United forward concluded by predicting a historic trajectory for his former teammate, suggesting that Yamal could potentially claim seven Ballon d’Or awards in his career. “If he goes on to win seven Ballons d’Or, I wouldn’t be surprised,” Rashford noted, framing the prediction as a reflection of his deep belief in the winger’s long-term potential. This endorsement from a seasoned international star adds significant weight to the narrative surrounding Yamal’s rise, positioning him not just as a current star, but as a future dynasty in European football.
Source: Yahoo Sports
