Writing his own story: Yamal stays clear of Ronaldo comparisons

Lamine Yamal has quickly evolved into one of the most talked-about names in football. The teenage prodigy is rising to the occasion time and again on the biggest stages. Yamal is still in the early years of his career, where he goes on to deliver match-defining moments with a maturity well beyond his age.

Yamal’s season in a nutshell

Yamal’s impact this season can never be ignored. The teenager has already bagged seven goals in La Liga and provided six assists. He is playing a key role in Barcelona’s charge to the top of the league table. He began the year in style at the Globe Soccer Awards, adding two major honours to his growing list. The Barcelona prodigy was named Best Forward and also received the prestigious Maradona Award, emphasising his extraordinary rise on the global stage.

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No time for comparisons

The 18-year-old is not bothered by the comparisons with established greats. He is more concentrated on the importance of carving out his own identity. The teenage star contemplated why legends like Cristiano Ronaldo succeeded by staying true to themselves rather than chasing parallels with others. “It’s best not to compare yourself to anyone. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo did what they did because they wanted to be themselves and not compare themselves to others. I want to build my own path," Yamal said, as reported by Fabrizio Romano on X. Yamal came second in the Ballon d'Or this year, where Ousmane Dembele won the award, while he finished second. He was awarded the Kopa Trophy for the second straight year. "God’s plan is perfect; you have to climb to get to the top. Happy for the Kopa trophy x2 and congratulations to @o.dembele7 for the award and the great season,” Yamal wrote on Instagram after the Ballon d'Or ceremony.

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Yamal once again played his part as Barcelona ended the year on a high, with him and Raphinha combining to secure a 2–0 win over 10-man Villarreal. The duo reflected each other’s celebrations, arms raised and hands linked, after finding the net. The result kept Barcelona sitting comfortably on top of La Liga, four points clear of Real Madrid, underscoring their control at the top as the season gathers momentum.