Famous Italian coach Fabio Capello, while talking about Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal, also mentioned Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Diego Maradona in the discussion. His comments caused a lot of public discussion, as they were about the main contenders for the Ballon d'Or, Defensa Central reports.
"I voted for Lamine Yamal in the fight for the Ballon d'Or. First Yamal, then Vinicius and Mbappe," Capello said. According to him, the young striker has already shown signs of maturity on the big stage and will continue to grow in this direction.
At the same time, he called for a cautious approach: "Yamal is a high-class player who will continue to grow, but he is not a phenomenon. Messi and Maradona have done things that no one else has done, so it is wrong to compare Yamal with them now. I don't mean numbers, I mean skill and genius."
Fabio Capello also made a special mention of Cristiano: "Cristiano Ronaldo is a terrible player... How many goals has he scored? More than anyone else. But he's not on the same level as Messi or Maradona." That is, the coach's criteria are not only statistics, but also the appearance of the game, the "unjudged" advantage created on the field - genius.
In these statements, Capello distinguishes two lines: on the one hand - extremely high efficiency and a high level of consistency, and on the other - a unique skill that changed the history of football. The statement about Yamal that he is "not a phenomenon" is not a disparagement, but a realistic assessment at the moment: the guy has great talent, but he still needs time, evidence and big finals to be compared to the pinnacle of genius like Messi or Maradona.
At the same time, Capello's voice is a sign of confidence in the young star: first place is Yamal, then Vinicius and Mbappe. So, he appreciates the modern pace of play, quick decisions and creative solutions; but to enter the historical "pantheon" requires significant game-changing pages.
It should be recalled that the "Ballon d'Or" award ceremony will be held in Paris on September 22. There, the name of the best player of the year will be determined, while the debate about the criterion of "genius" mentioned by Capello will once again be at the center of the agenda.
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