Praise From a Defensive Legend
Monterrey’s “bronze wall” centre-back Sergio Ramos, who for years made the back line of Real Madrid and the Spanish national team impenetrable, shared his admiration for Barcelona’s young winger Lamine Yamal. At a pre-match press conference the 38-year-old captain of the Mexican side emphasised: “Yamal is not the future, but very much the present.”
The Young Winger’s Records
Despite being just 17, Lamine has already rewritten several pages of the record books. He became the youngest player to score for the Blaugrana in La Liga and earned his debut for La Roja before reaching adulthood. With every match the Catalan winger confirms his status as a difference-maker: a one-on-one dribble, a sudden burst down the flank, a timely movement into the half-space — and the opponent’s defence collapses.
National Pride Above Club Colors
“Yes, he wears the blue-and-claret shirt, but above all he defends the colors of Spain,” Ramos added. The experienced centre-back stressed that, despite the historic El Clásico rivalry, the achievements of any Spanish player push the whole of Spanish football forward. In Luis de la Fuente’s revamped national team Yamal is already a key winger: he stretches opposition lines and opens space for Álvaro Morata and Dani Olmo.
Trophies Today, Challenges Tomorrow
The past season underlined Lamine’s value once again: Barça’s double — the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey — was largely the result of his unconventional decisions in the final third. Ramos, however, reminds us that a professional career is a marathon, not a sprint. Ahead of Yamal lie the Champions League and the World Cup, where the level of competition will rise exponentially. Maintaining concentration, improving decision-making and boosting physical endurance are the three tasks that separate a sensation from a future legend.
Conclusion
Sergio Ramos’ words echo like a symbolic passing of the baton between generations: the most decorated Spanish defender of the 21st century already sees a fully-fledged star in the 17-year-old dribbling prodigy. For supporters, this is a call to watch every touch of Yamal with care — history is being written right now.
