Lamine Yamal is ‘the one to take over’ from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney claims – as 17-year-old shines again on the European stage

By LEWIS BROWNING

Wayne Rooney has hailed Lamine Yamal as ‘the one to take over’ from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

Yamal has taken European football by storm in the last few months, from being an integral part of the Spain team that won Euro 2024 to hitting 100 appearances for Barcelona as they chase a Treble.

Yamal won the Copa del Rey with Barca last month, and they are now targeting both LaLiga and Champions League success. He started their semi-final second-leg clash with Inter Milan on Tuesday night.

The wider football world has been full of praise for the 17-year-old, who scored a sensational solo goal in the first leg in Spain last week.

The strike took him to 15 goals in all competitions this season, while he has also picked up 24 assists while forming an impressive partnership with Raphinha on the opposite flank.

And Rooney, who was a youth sensation himself at Everton before joining Manchester United, has offered Yamal perhaps the highest praise possible, insisting he is the next big thing in world football. 

Lamine Yamal will be the player to take over from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, according to Wayne Rooney

Yamal is targeting a Treble with Barcelona and played in the Champions League again on Tuesday evening

Ronaldo (left) and Messi (right) have been regarded as the best players of the generation

Rooney (left) branded Yamal a ‘superstar’, while Daniel Sturridge (right) suggested he still has another level to go up to

‘He’s incredible,’ Rooney said on Amazon Prime’s coverage of the semi-final clash. ‘Barcelona tend to have these kind of players.

‘Obviously, Messi and Ronaldinho and Figo and Rivaldo and all these players. He’s the latest one. What I love about him is that he’s got no fear. He commits defenders, makes them make a decision and he’s obviously got composure with his goalscoring.

‘I think he’s the next player. We’ve had Messi and Ronaldo over the last 20 years, he’s the one to take over.’

Rooney continued: ‘It is a different generation. He looks fun to be around and he’s active on his social media which the fans now want to see.

‘I think the most important thing is what he does on the pitch. If he keeps doing what he’s doing, keeps progressing then… He’s a superstar. I can’t wait to watch him play.’

Still just 17, the winger could have a lengthy career at the top of the game. With Barcelona four points clear at the top of LaLiga, he is aiming to add more trophies to his collection before he turns 18 in July.

He still, though, has another level to go to. That’s according to Daniel Sturridge, who praised the forward’s ‘God-given ability’.

‘He’s gifted,’ Sturridge said. God-given ability is what he has. The progression is going to be how much does he want to be the best.

‘God is going to give you the talents, you work hard obviously but then it’s down to you to continue pushing and go to the next level. You see with the greats of the game, they are all obsessed with being the best.

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Lamine Yamal is ‘the one to take over’ from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney claims – as 17-year-old shines again on the European stage

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