Ronaldo overtaken by Yamal, says Steven Gerrard

Steven Gerrard says that Lamine Yamal at nineteen years old is already further ahead than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were when they reached that age. Nevertheless, the Barcelona star will not play against the Czech Republic on Thursday because of knee pain. The clip was posted on Google three minutes earlier.

Gerrard hopes that Yamal's entourage and Barcelona can keep him hungry. He says that in his younger years he played against both Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, a story he shared in the podcast The Overlap. In his view, Yamal at that age is further ahead than they were at the time.

He believes that Yamal, provided he continues to develop, can reach the level of those two. Gerrard notes that Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland are currently in their peak years, but Yamal stands out above the younger generation. The biggest challenge for Yamal and his coaches at Barcelona is to keep him hungry.

Trophies and recognition

Yamal, who is only nineteen years old, already has an impressive trophy cabinet. He became champion three times with Barcelona. With Spain he won the Euro 2024.

Luis de la Fuente urges Lamine Yamal to emulate Messi and Ronaldo

He also won the World Cup last summer with the national team. In 2024 he was named Golden Boy, the award for Talent of the Year.

Gerrard describes Yamal's talent as almost frightening and says he has never seen a nineteen‑year‑old play like that. He wonders whether Yamal would ever want to leave Barcelona. Gerrard points out that Barcelona fights for the league title and the Champions League every season, plays weekly for a hundred thousand spectators, and Yamal is a mainstay in the national team, and he wonders why he would depart.

To date Yamal has played 167 matches for Barcelona. In addition he has made 37 appearances for Spain. National team coach Luis de la Fuente now has to ensure Yamal stays fit, something that has not always been achieved in the past.

Spain’s de La Fuente urges Yamal to fill Messi and Ronaldo void

Yamal is currently dealing with knee problems. The coach reports that he will be available against England. De la Fuente explained that the risk of playing him was not worth it. He added that it was the right decision; Yamal was willing to play, but health and preparation for the upcoming Sunday took precedence.