Lamine Yamal is arguably the most talented youngster football has encountered in recent memory.
Pep Guardiola revealed Rodri sang Yamal’s praises when they discussed the 17-year-old.
The teenager helped the Manchester City midfielder win the European Championship with Spain — becoming the first player in the history of the tournament to score or assist a goal in the quarter-final, semi-final and final.
A strong case can be made about Yamal has become both Barcelona and his nation’s most dangerous player — indicating how incredible his breakthrough has been in senior football.
Apart from in the final of Euro 2024 against England, the highly-rated wonderkid was 16 years old throughout the tournament.
Witnessing Yamal’s heroics at the tournament, there was discourse around whether there has been a better player than him to grace the game at his age.
Walker reveals Man City teammate was similarly talented to Yamal
The likes of Pele, Wayne Rooney and Cesc Fabregas were names that instantly spring to mind.
Kyle Walker had the privilege of being on the same pitch as a talent, who has the potential to go down as one of the best players of his generation as England suffered a 2-1 defeat to Spain in the final of Euro 2024.
Walker and Yamal played on opposite flanks but there were instances when they went toe-to-toe with each other.
When quizzed about whether the Blaugrana poster-child is one of the best 16-year-old players he has ever seen, the Manchester City defender also mentioned a teenage Phil Foden in the same breath — suggesting he views them as similar talents.
The £50 million man told Sky Sports: “Probably, I have to say so but obviously, Phil [Foden], when he was here, the likes of Wayne Rooney and stuff like that.”
“It’s incredible, for what he’s doing but long may it continue but we all like to play against good footballers and play against them.”
Phil Foden was a special talent from a very young age like Lamine Yamal
Considering Foden was not as established as Yamal is, perhaps the masses will view the latter as a better teenage talent and all-round player.
However, the fact that Pep Guardiola incorporated the Englishman into the first-team at 17 is a testament to how bright he felt his future was.
Foden would have been training with the first-team at 16, where Walker would have first come across his unique talent.
The 24-year-old has lived up to his incredible potential, emerging as one of the best players in the world and he still has plenty of time and room to further improve.
Much like Yamal, Foden always seemed ready for senior football due to the outstanding technique, intelligence and fearlessness he possessed from a young age.
