Barcelona’s Robert Lewandowski makes bold claim about Real Madrid: ‘They have pressure to find someone like Lamine Yamal’
Lamine Yamal’s sudden rise has stunned both insiders and outsiders in world soccer, leaving many amazed at how a player his age has managed to establish himself at the highest level. Sharing the pitch with him at FC Barcelona, Robert Lewandowski made a bold statement about archrival Real Madrid: “They have pressure to find someone like Lamine.”
One of Real Madrid’s marquee moves this summer was the signing of Argentine wonderkid Franco Mastantuono from River Plate, who was presented to the media just after turning 18. With Xabi Alonso now in charge, Los Blancos spent $60 million to land him, and given his profile as a young, left-footed winger, comparisons with Yamal quickly surfaced.
Speaking to ESPN, Lewandowski was asked about Real Madrid’s newest addition and didn’t mince words. “You can’t compare the players, specially at this young age. What I see is that football is taking so many young players and put pressure on them. It’s not about the football, but so many people of this age are not ready mentally to take this opportunity.
The Polish striker warned about the long-term effects such expectations can have on teenagers: “I think it makes them weaker, not now, but the question is what’s going to happen when they’re going to be 24, 26, or 28. Will they still be playing in the top level or not? If you started so young, it’s a huge challenge to stay in the top, not only 5, but 10 years or even longer.”
When asked directly whether Real Madrid are under pressure because of Yamal’s emergence, Lewandowski doubled down. “For sure they have pressure to find someone like Lamine. I think that’ll be impossible, and it’s better for you to follow your own way. Of course the fans and the expectations are always ‘Oh, we have to find some kind of Lamine,’ but this kind of guy isn’t born every year.“
Lewandowski also pointed out that this uniqueness had previously been seen with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, who defined an era for both Barcelona and Real Madrid. With expectations already sky-high for Yamal and Mastantuono, Lewandowski suggested the real test will be whether they can sustain their elite level for the long term.
What did Mastantuono say about comparisons with Yamal?
After becoming the youngest player to debut in an official match for Argentina, Mastantuono set the bar high just days after turning 18—naturally fueling speculation of a potential future rivalry with Yamal for the Ballon d’Or, a topic Chelsea’s Estevão recently touched on. But for Mastantuono, individual awards are far from his priorities.
“Estevão is a great player. As for the Ballon d’Or, honestly, it’s not something I’m thinking about right now. I’m focused on adapting to Real Madrid, starting to play, and winning—because that’s what the club demands. I want to win a lot of things with Real Madrid,” he told TyC Sports back in July.
The Argentine emphasized his focus remains firmly on collective success. “If you ask me, my goal is to win many titles, fight for the Champions League, win La Liga—those are the things I have in mind. Obviously, the first step is to adapt and be ready to play. The Ballon d’Or is honestly not on my mind. I appreciate Estevão’s words, but it’s not something I’m focused on.”