"Lewandowski praises youth for his learning experiences"
Barcelona Striker Robert Lewandowski Backs Young Talents for Ballon d'Or
Robert Lewandowski, the 37-year-old striker for FC Barcelona, has expressed his belief that two of his team-mates, Lamine Yamal and Raphinha, have a good chance of winning the prestigious Ballon d'Or award this year.
Lewandowski's endorsement comes after an impressive season for both players. Last season, Yamal, an 18-year-old Spanish winger, led LaLiga in assists (13) and attempted (309) and completed dribbles (161). He also scored 18 goals in 35 La Liga appearances, playing primarily as a winger.
Yamal's exceptional performance earned him the praise of Lewandowski, who admitted that he is still learning from his younger team-mates. "Lamine is a special talent," Lewandowski said. "He has something that sets him apart. I am excited to see what he will achieve in the future."
Yamal, who was born on July 13, 2007, came through Barcelona's famed youth academy, La Masia, and made his first team debut for the club in April 2023 at just 15 years and 9 months old. He has since broken several records, including becoming the youngest player to ever represent the club and the youngest to reach 50 first-team appearances.
Meanwhile, Raphinha, another young talent, registered an impressive 34 goals and 22 assists for Barcelona in all competitions last season. Lewandowski spoke highly of Raphinha's performance, describing it as "amazing".
Barcelona will start their LaLiga title defence away at Mallorca on August 16. With the talent and determination of players like Lewandowski, Yamal, and Raphinha, the team is poised for another successful season.
Last season, Lewandowski helped Barcelona score 102 goals in LaLiga, making them the only team across Europe's top five divisions to score 100+ league goals in 2024-25. Only Kylian Mbappe scored more goals than Lewandowski among players in Europe's top five leagues.
Despite starting his career before some of his current team-mates were born, Lewandowski is still developing his game. He believes that he can help his younger team-mates and learn from them in return. "Football is a game of constant evolution," Lewandowski said. "I am always looking to improve and learn from my team-mates."
Lewandowski expressed optimism about the upcoming season, stating that he is still able to perform at a high level. Last season, he scored 42 goals and registered three assists in all competitions.
As the new season approaches, fans are eager to see how the young talents of Barcelona will continue to shine, and whether Lewandowski will add to his impressive goal tally. With the domestic treble under their belt, Barcelona will be looking to defend their title and continue their winning streak.
[1] Barcelona's Lamine Yamal: The Rising Star
[2] Lamine Yamal: The Youngest Player to Ever Represent Barcelona
[3] Lamine Yamal: The 15-Year-Old Who Debuted for Barcelona
[4] Lamine Yamal: The 18-Year-Old Who Signed a Long-Term Contract with Barcelona
[5] Lamine Yamal: The 18-Year-Old Who Inherited the Number 10 Shirt from Ansu Fati
- The exceptional performance of Barcelona's young winger, Lamine Yamal, in European-leagues like LaLiga, has made him a strong contender for the Ballon d'Or award, as supported by team-mate and striker Robert Lewandowski.
- Not only is Raphinha, another young talent in Barcelona's squad, making waves with his impressive goal tally, but his contribution to the team's success has also earned him high praise from Robert Lewandowski.
