Heads and tails for Lamine Yamal: praise from Wesley Sneijder, ugly criticism from Adil Rami

Published New:23/07/2025 - 18:24h

Updated New:23/07/2025 - 19:29h

Wesley Sneijder and Adil Rami had contrasting opinions about Lamine Yamal. While the Dutchman praised and advised the '10' of Barça, the Frenchman lashed out with harsh criticism of his personality

Lamine Yamal was one of the topics addressed by Wesley Sneijder in an interview for the Arab media 'Winwin-allsports'. According to the runner-up of the world with the Netherlands and winner of the UEFA Champions League in 2010, the player from Mataró must be clear about the importance of hard work to exploit his talent.

"He has extraordinary potential, but he is still very young. Talent is one thing, but determination and discipline are another," began the former Dutch midfielder. In that sense, he advised the new '10' of the 'culés' about what he should do in the future to have a legendary career.

"If Lamine manages to stay focused and avoid temptations, he can reach the top," explained Sneijder. The former Real Madrid and Inter Milan player was fourth in the 2010 Ballon d'Or, after winning the treble with the 'nerazzurri' and reaching the World Cup final with Holland.

Sneijder recalls his frustrated Ballon d'Or when talking about Lamine Yamal

This year, Yamal is one of the favorites to win the award given annually by 'France Football', along with Ousmane Dembélé (PSG) and Raphinha. For Barça, Pedri González is also a candidate, although with less favoritism, while in Paris, players like Vitinha and Nuno Mendes, who also won the Nations League with Portugal, are also strong contenders.

Regarding his frustrated candidacy for the Ballon d'Or, the former Dutch player admitted that he has never fully overcome the sadness of not having won the award. That year, Leo Messi revalidated the award obtained in 2009, followed by Andrés Iniesta and Xavi Hernández.

"I did everything, but Messi won. He is a great player, there is no doubt about that. The fact that the fans are still talking about me in 2010 shows that they recognized what I did and that is what is important," he said.

For this year, Sneijder sees Lamine as a candidate, although he preferred not to 'get wet' regarding the winner of a Ballon d'Or that, year after year, always gives some surprise due to the changes in criteria in the voters.

Not everything is praise for Lamine Yamal in Europe

Beyond the praise that Wesley Sneijder and other former players in the world usually dedicate to the player from Mataró, the 'crack' of Barça also has some detractors in Europe, although few dare to publicly criticize the 18-year-old winger.

The one who did not hesitate to launch harsh criticism towards Yamal was the former French player Adil Rami. The player from Bastia passed through LaLiga with Valencia and Sevilla before retiring with Troyes in 2023 and lashed out with harsh criticism and insults towards the youth squad player from Barcelona.

In a live broadcast through his social networks, Rami assured that he cannot stand the attitude of the '10' of the 'culés' off the field. "He is going to win Ballon d'Ors, European Cups... On the field he is a phenomenon. But because of how he behaves... fuck him," commented the defender who was part of the France team that won the World Cup in 2018.

For the Frenchman, the origin of his rejection towards Lamine had to do with his greeting to Cristiano Ronaldo after the final of the Nations League, where Portugal defeated Spain in the penalties. In that sense, Rami believes that the player from Rocafonda is too cocky with some of his gestures and statements. In addition, he criticized the luxuries that the winger exhibits on his social networks and celebrations such as his 18th birthday.

Statements raised in tone and totally out of place from a little remembered former player towards whom the specialized criticism considers as the best player in the world at the moment and who is called to dominate the elite in the coming years. But come on, that's also what social networks and the football ecosystem are about.

💥 Adil Rami harshly attacks Lamine Yamal: “Fuck him...”

🔥 The former French footballer harshly attacked the Barcelona winger for his behavior on and off the field on social networks

🤔 What do you think? pic.twitter.com/BoZgcoc5Nr
— Diario AS (@diarioas) July 23, 2025