Spain defender Aymeric Laporte has praised FC Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal, saying the forward’s ball control and dribbling strike fear into opponents. Laporte explained that Yamal’s unpredictability on the ball leaves defenders unsure how to react, often forcing them to retreat rather than engage directly.
Laporte compared the way defenders face Yamal to past one‑on‑one encounters with Lionel Messi, when opponents would be guessing whether the attacker would cut inside, accelerate, stop, lay a pass, or shoot from distance. He said that the uncertainty Yamal creates is what makes him so dangerous.
Yamal is enjoying another strong season: despite earlier struggles with pubalgia, he has amassed 15 goals and 12 assists in 31 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona, underlining his importance to the team’s attack.
Laporte’s remarks were made to RMC Sport, where he emphasised that the fear Yamal instils in defenders is a major factor in his effectiveness when carrying the ball.
