Phil Foden didn't hesitate naming the Champions League star who has "got everything", showering him with huge praise.
Foden, who won the competition with Manchester City in 2023 as part of their treble-winning campaign, is preparing for another huge clash with Real Madrid on Tuesday evening.
The two sides meet once again, this two in a two-legged play-off as part of the all-new Champions League format. City and Real were below the eight automatic qualification spots and so a tie will determine who progresses to the round of 16.
But while all eyes are on Real at the Etihad Stadium, Foden has been waxing lyrical about a Barcelona sensation. The England international sat down for an interview with Ben Foster for Amazon Prime prior ahead of the big European fixture and he was asked about who is the top wonderkid in world football at the moment.
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Without hesitation, the 24-year-old, a former teenage phenom himself, name-dropped 18-year-old Lamine Yamal and spoke glowingly about the Spaniard.
“Yamal at Barca, the kid on the right wing," Foden said.
"His decision making for such a young kid is one of the best I’ve seen. He’s got everything.”
Still only 17, Yamal has quickly developed into the next big thing in world football - performing at an world-class level for club and country.
Fearless as ever, he helped Spain win the Euros in the summer, where they beat Foden's England 2-1 in the final.
Off the back of a stunning breakthrough at Barca, Yamal won the Young Player of the Tournament and finished eighth in the rankings for the Ballon d'Or - which was claimed by his compatriot Rodri.
He has continued to produce heroics in the current campaign with 11 goals and 14 assists in all competitions.
With his slick, slaloming dribbling style and wand of a left foot from off the right flank, Yamal has drawn comparisons to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, who had a picture with the youngster when he was a toddler.
Messi reacts to Yamal comparisons
Messi, who scored a record 672 goals for Barca, sees the resemblance however and picked Yamal, wearing his old No.19, as the current prospect who reminds him of himself.
"There's a very good generation of young footballers who have many years ahead of them," Messi said at an event in Adidas' Herzogenaurach in December.
"If I have to choose someone, because of the age and because of the future that he has, I've heard that they have chosen Lamine Yamal and without doubt [it's him] for me, too.
"I agree it depends on him and many things because that's how soccer is, but he's the present and without a doubt has a huge future."
Topics: Phil Foden, Champions League, Manchester City
Josh Lawless