“Don’t compare yourself to anyone,” says Yamal as he wins Best Forward award
Abdullateef Fowewe
Rising Barcelona star Lamine Yamal stole the spotlight at the 2025 Globe Soccer Awards on Sunday, clinching the Best Forward honour while delivering a poignant message on forging one’s own legacy amid comparisons to football legends.
The 18-year-old sensation, who has dazzled with his speed, vision, and goal-scoring prowess for both club and country, accepted the award to thunderous applause from the star-studded audience.
Yamal’s victory caps a breakout year where he played a pivotal role in Barcelona’s La Liga campaign and Spain’s international triumphs.
In his acceptance speech, Yamal emphasises self-reliance over emulation.
“It’s best not to compare yourself to anyone,” he declared, drawing inspiration from icons like Cristiano Ronaldo.
He elaborated, “Players like Cristiano Ronaldo did what they did because they wanted to be themselves and not compare themselves to others.”
Yamal, reflecting on his meteoric rise from La Masia youth ranks to global stardom, added a personal vow, “I want to build my own path.”
His words resonated deeply, underscoring a philosophy of individuality in a sport often defined by benchmarks set by Messi, Ronaldo, and others.
The event, held at Dubai’s Atlantis The Royal, also celebrated other luminaries, but Yamal’s win and wisdom positioned him as football’s next big thinker.
