Steve McManaman has declared Lamine Yamal already operates at a level unseen in football at his age, surpassing even teenage versions of Lionel Messi and Michael Owen. The former Liverpool and Real Madrid winger, speaking to SPORT, described the Barcelona forward as a fully formed global star despite being only 16 or 17 years old.
McManaman’s case for Yamal as an unprecedented teenage talent
McManaman’s assessment cuts deeper than mere praise. He positioned Yamal’s current output—not his potential—above what Messi and Owen delivered at the same developmental stage. “I think he’s already a global star. Without a doubt. But I think he’s going to get even better. He’s just too good,” McManaman said. The winger added: “As a 16- or 17-year-old player, he’s the best teenager we’ve ever seen. And I compare him to Michael Owen at 17, Leo at 17 or 18. But I think Lamine is even better than them.”
Such a claim carries weight from someone who observed elite talent across two of Europe’s biggest clubs. McManaman’s conviction rests not on trajectory but on what Yamal is already producing on the pitch at Barcelona.
The injury concern shadowing Yamal’s Barcelona future
Despite the glowing assessment, McManaman flagged a critical risk: workload management. Yamal has already suffered a muscle injury, joining a troubling pattern at the club involving younger players. Gavi sustained a serious injury; Pedri faced similar setbacks. McManaman identified the core problem: Barcelona is asking a 16-year-old to function as a key player in a demanding elite environment.
“When you play so much football and are such a key player at 16, 17 or 18, it’s very difficult,” McManaman warned. He stressed the importance of rest and careful development, emphasizing that sustained availability matters more than any individual performance. “He simply needs to keep working hard and improving his game. The more experience he gains, the better a player he will become. I hope he stays injury-free.”
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Araujo’s Premier League credentials on display at Liverpool
McManaman also offered insight into Ronald Araujo’s loan spell at Liverpool, arguing the Barcelona defender possesses the defensive attributes to succeed in English football. Araujo has already proven his adaptability in La Liga, regularly covering right-back when defensive reshuffles required it. McManaman highlighted one particular example: Araujo directly marked Vinícius Júnior when Kounde shifted into centre-back, and “did it really well.”
“I really like him. I watch quite a lot of La Liga, and he’s a very good defender,” McManaman said. With Liverpool supporters concerned about depth at right-back, Araujo’s profile offers reassurance that the club has secured a defender capable of operating across the backline without compromising standards in the Premier League’s physical, direct style.
