Yamal has been defeated by Nuno Mendes twice, both while playing for the national team and his club - Photo: Reuters
Specifically, Goncalo Ramos said after the match: "Talk less, show it with actions." This simple statement left Barca fans bitter.
Ramos didn't name the specific person he wanted to address, but everyone knew it was Yamal – the always boisterous pre-match commentator. And the result was clear. Yamal, despite his best efforts, was once again unable to score due to Nuno Mendes' tight marking. Ramos, meanwhile, scored the winning goal for PSG in the 90th minute.
In football, making slightly confident or boisterous statements before a match isn't really a big deal. But because this is Yamal – a youngster who only turned 18 a few months ago and is constantly under public pressure – the story is quite different. Barcelona and Spanish fans could easily compile a long list of Yamal's pre-match statements.
That was when Barca faced Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals last season. Or when Spain clashed with Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final. And it seems that every time Yamal showed confidence before a match, his team... lost.
Yamal's current attitude is somewhat reminiscent of Mbappe and Haaland in the past. Before Yamal rose to prominence, those two names were considered "prodigies" of football. They truly reached a high level, but day after day they were still unable to reach the Ballon d'Or title.
Mbappe is almost 27 years old, and Haaland is already 25. Fans are surprised to see that these former "golden boys" of football are now in the middle of their careers, yet still haven't achieved anything to rival legends like Messi and Ronaldo.
In a few years, that "shocking" feeling might come back to Yamal. Compared to Mbappe and Haaland, Yamal became famous even earlier. Mbappe won the World Cup at 19, while Yamal won the European Championship at just 17. His arrogant attitude inevitably worries fans; they fear Yamal will not go much further, or even reach the level of Mbappe and Haaland currently.
This season, fans have seen very different images of the superstar duo who were once predicted to inherit the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry. Mbappe is more humble than ever, quietly and diligently proving himself on the pitch, and no longer sparking any controversy regarding his attitude.
Similarly, Haaland at Man City is also undergoing a significant change in his playing style, no longer just loitering in the penalty area, but instead frequently dropping deep to support the defense.
The common thread is that both have reduced their pre- and post-match statements. Even when they do speak, they avoid controversial remarks. This is the right attitude, as Mbappe and Haaland have realized how far they've strayed on their path to becoming the best.
At 18, Yamal might feel he's still too young to be as polished as Mbappe or Haaland. But time flies. La Masia consistently produces superstars year after year, and the world of football is constantly changing with each season. There will come a time when Yamal realizes his dribbling skills are no longer "unrivaled," no longer something he can be confident in before every big match.
PSG is the safest option.
After the first two rounds of the group stage of this year's Champions League, only six teams remain with a perfect winning record: Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, PSG, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and... Qarabag - the surprising "dark horse" from Azerbaijan.
Of these teams, PSG can be the most pleased as they have already faced two strong opponents, Atalanta and Barca. In contrast, Inter Milan, Arsenal, and Real Madrid have yet to truly encounter any strong opponents.
Source: https://tuoitre.vn/yamal-nen-hoc-mbappe-haaland-20251003084800932.htm
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