Tyler Stearns |
Lamine Yamal has had a dominant start to the 2024-25 season, as his amazing form has continued from the Euros. After five goal contributions in Germany for the Spanish National Team, along with the Best Young Player Award and the Euros Trophy, many thought that his amazing play would slow down going into the year. But it has been the opposite, and now he is adding more goals to his catalog. After his first Champions League goal, a brace versus Girona, as well as a goal or an assist every other game this year, he has finally turned into the threat we all knew he could be.
But his form begs the question: can he be in the conversation for the best player in the world? Stats-wise, yes. He has better stats than the likely 2024 Heisman winner Vinivius Jr., as well as stars like Bukayo Saka, Phil Foden, Jude Bellingham, Kevin De Bruyne, and others. And he arguably has better stats than Kylian Mbappe, who has scored more goals but has had many penalties. Lamine Yamal's eye test is also amazing. His dribbling, passing, and even finishing are all top. He offers more going forward than the likes of Mohamed Salah and Bukayo Saka at this point, which makes him the best right winger in the world. And his stats make him better than Vinicius Jr. at the moment, so he can even be considered the best winger in general.
But the debate starts to heat up when we add Haaland into the mix. Haaland already has 10 goals in the Premier League before October, a ridiculous statline that is unmatched by any striker in the top five leagues. He has upgraded his goal catalog this season with some out-of-the-box finishes and some goals where he dribbles before he shoots, something that he rarely does due to his size and positioning that allows him to tap each ball in. he had two hat-tricks in a row, and scored against the best defense in the world in Arsenal. Yamal has only scored against weaker teams, though he hasn't played any strong opponents in the Champions League or La Liga so it isn't his fault. But Yamal is the better player, even if his stats aren't as good. Haaland is a great player, but he only offers goalscoring. Yamal offers goalscoring, and also amazing playmaking, and ball progression at an exceptional level. He is also carrying a Barcelona team with a new coaching staff and allowing Flick's transition into his managerial role to be as smooth as possible. Haaland plays with the best coach in the world and has some of Europe's top midfielders to feed him the ball. Yamal doesn't have that at the moment, and many of his best plays are created by him. So it isn't too early to call Yamal the best player in the world, because he is showing us he is. He isn't too young to be in that category, and he showed that during the Euros.
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