Lamine Yamal has long made it clear that his footballing idol is Neymar and spoke again this week about how he’s been inspired by the Brazilian superstar.

Neymar has now returned the praise by revealing just how highly he rates the Barcelona teenager and how he hopes he can win the Champions League and the Ballon d’Or in the coming years.

“I really think he’s one of the greatest teenage sensations football has ever seen. There was Messi, there was me but… what this kid is doing at 18 is just unreal,” he said, per Marca.

“I felt for him when they were knocked out of the Champions League. He gave it his all, he even started the comeback. But that’s football, anything can happen.

“His time is coming. I hope he wins it next year… and why not the Ballon d’Or as well? He’s special. One of those players I’ll always be rooting for.”

Yamal finished second behind Ousmane Dembele in the Ballon d’Or last year but will once again be in the running for 2026.

Meanwhile, he’s also vowed to Barcelona fans he will do all he can to bring the European Cup back to Barcelona in the wake of their Champions League exit.