'Lamine Yamal is frightening, further than Messi and Ronaldo'

Gerrard says Yamal is further advanced than Messi and Ronaldo were at his age, but keeping him hungry will be key to reaching their level.

Steven Gerrard has praised Lamine Yamal's talent in exceptional terms, saying the Barcelona winger is more advanced at 19 than either Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo were at the same age. Speaking on The Overlap podcast, Gerrard said: "From all the players I've seen live in action, he's the one who — if he continues to develop — can reach the level of those two."

Yamal has already won three La Liga titles with Barcelona, the 2024 European Championship and last summer's World Cup with Spain, and was named Golden Boy in 2024. Gerrard acknowledged the challenge ahead: "His talent and potential are almost frightening. He shows things on the pitch I've never seen a 19-year-old do before. The biggest challenge for him and the people around him at Barcelona is to keep him hungry."

Meanwhile, Yamal is managing a knee issue. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente rested him for Thursday's match against Czechia but expects him to play against England on Sunday, prioritising his health and ensuring he is in peak condition.