Young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal could be next Zidane, claims father

Lamine Yamal, the teenage sensation at Barcelona, has gained high praise from his father, Mounir Nasraoui, who believes his son is destined to win multiple Ballons d’Or and can reach the level of legendary playmaker Zinedine Zidane.

According to Nasraoui, the world has only seen “20% of Yamal’s ability.” He watched his son secure the Kopa Trophy and finish eighth in the 2024 Ballon d'Or voting, an incredible accomplishment for a 17-year-old, and believes it’s only a matter of time before Yamal claims the Golden Ball.

In an interview with France Football, Nasraoui revealed that he doesn’t view Yamal as a winger but rather as a number 10, saying that playing behind the striker will unlock his son’s “Zidane-like ability.”

“I quickly understood that he was a star, that he was not a human being like the others,” Nasraoui told France Football. “From a very young age, there was a ball in his stroller. I always had faith in him, telling my friends that he was going to become the best player in the world, that he was a pure diamond. He must remain the same, on and off the field, and have fun. Today, he is a man. I told him that the other day, and I couldn’t hold back my tears.”

Nasraoui expressed confidence in his son’s potential to dominate football, emphasizing, “You have only seen 20% of what he is capable of doing. For me, he is a number 10, not a winger. He has the skill and the mentality to play in the center, behind the striker, like a Zinedine Zidane. You will see. I rub my hands thinking about the Ballon d'Ors he's going to win.”

Yamal recently missed Barcelona’s La Liga clash against Real Sociedad due to a severe contusion from the Champions League victory over Crvena zvezda. The young star aims to return quickly to aid Barcelona’s title chase and possibly represent Spain in November internationals, though if unfit, he’ll target a return for Barcelona’s match against Celta Vigo on November 23.