Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have dominated the world of soccer for practically twenty years, marking a turning level within the historical past of the game. Now, as their careers close to the tip, they’re making room for a brand new era of stars, led by Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal, amongst others. A former coach of the Argentina Nationwide Workforce has made a comparability between them.
Forward of the September worldwide break, Argentina icon and present Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa spoke at size about Yamal. “In case you have a participant just like the winger from Barcelona, who you give the ball to, and he doesn’t care if there are two or ten gamers in entrance of him, he’ll dribble previous them anyway… That form of participant solves the attacking recreation, irrespective of the evaluation,” the coach started.
“He breaks the evaluation and improves his staff as a result of he eliminates opponents on his personal, with out assist from anybody,” Bielsa added, earlier than evaluating Lamine Yamal to the legendary No. 10 from Barcelona. “He doesn’t even want highly effective passes as a result of he receives lateral balls and dribbles previous everybody. Identical to Messi and different gamers who change the sport.”
Subsequent, the coach who led the Argentina Nationwide Workforce between 1999 and 2004 highlighted one purpose why Yamal and Messi are completely different from others. “Mbappe or Cristiano Ronaldo want attacking midfielders, however each Messi and the Barcelona winger don’t want attacking midfielders; they simply want lateral passes with the opponent in entrance of them. So, in case you have that useful resource, every part associated to construction doesn’t matter,” defined Bielsa.
Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa.
Bielsa feedback on Yamal’s habits
Regardless of his unimaginable expertise and spectacular performances with Barcelona, Lamine Yamal has confronted criticism within the media for his off-field life-style. Some have pointed to his fondness for partying and declare it might turn out to be a major drawback sooner or later, even affecting his sporting efficiency.
see additionally
French star and world champion compares Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi, however warns he can come off as smug
Bielsa was requested about this and gave a transparent response. “I noticed Luis de la Fuente’s response (coach of Spain) to a journalist’s query about Lamine Yamal. A journalist was speaking in regards to the participant’s partying in Mallorca, in all these seashores within the Balearic Islands,” Marcelo stated.
“De la Fuente is sensible and explains that this doesn’t matter as a result of Yamal trains six hours a day, spends two hours within the fitness center, eats nicely, has a physiotherapist, a kinesiologist, and is required to sleep a sure variety of hours,” continued the Argentina coach. “Certain, he has a girlfriend and goes out at evening, however what do the journalists spotlight? These vacation outings which are broadcast attractively or this methodical rigor?”
Yamal vs Mbappe, the brand new rivalry?
Simply as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo had an intense rivalry for practically a decade at Barcelona and Actual Madrid, it now appears these roles have discovered new protagonists. The 2024-25 season marked Kylian Mbappe’s first yr in La Liga, coinciding with the definitive rise of Lamine Yamal as a soccer star.
Now, each gamers have claimed the No. 10 jersey for his or her respective groups, and all indicators level to the truth that from this yr ahead, all eyes in every El Clasico between Actual Madrid and Barcelona will likely be on them. For now, Yamal may need an edge over Mbappe: the younger Spanish winger is without doubt one of the favorites to win the Ballon d’Or 2025, one thing that Kylian has but to attain.
