Lamine vs. Cristiano, football has no age

The prism you choose to view things affects everything in life. On July 13, 2007, Sheila Ebana gave birth to her son in Esplugues de Llobregat. Sheila and her husband, Mounir Nasraoui, decided to name him Lamine Yamal, honoring two important people in their lives. At that time, Cristiano Ronaldo was already a Manchester United player and had racked up 46 caps and 17 goals for Portugal. He was beginning to carve out a legendary career that remains in the spotlight today. This would be one way to analyze the main focus of the Nations League final, which Portugal and Spain will play this Sunday at the Allianz Arena in Munich, with more Iberian accent than ever. But there are others. There are always others. One month away from coming of age, Lamine Yamal is already a star and sits at the table of the best footballers in the world. He already carries the weight of the Barça and Spanish national team jerseys on his shoulders. At that age, Cristiano had yet to make his debut for the senior team and was taking his first steps at Sporting Lisbon. No one could have imagined the player he would eventually become, but with Lamine it's the other way around; no one can imagine him anywhere but the Olympus of football . There are all kinds of ways of looking at it.

"Cristiano is an example for anyone who wants to be a footballer because of his professionalism," praises Oyarzábal.

In the Nations League final, an established star and another destined to dominate the ball for the next decade meet for the first time on the pitch. Numbers don't usually lie. Cristiano Ronaldo has 220 appearances for Portugal, with 137 goals to his name. The latest was decisive in the comeback against Germany. Lamine's numbers could be considered more modest, but considering his age, modesty gives way to admiration: 20 appearances and six goals, with a European Championship title already under his belt.

"We have to take the pressure off Lamine so we can enjoy him for many years," Cristiano himself claims.

Experience allows Cristiano to live comfortably with the praise that continues to fill his ears at 40 years old. Unai Simón, for example, praised his figure: "He's an example of daily work, of taking care of oneself and of sacrificing a lot of space and time for football." Lamine, for his part, is just beginning to discover this world and, despite his age, everything indicates that he handles it with surprising aplomb. "The kid is doing things very well. He's at a club and with a national team that help him a lot; it's a very conducive environment for his qualities to flourish, which are very great," Cristiano himself praised his young rival. But he also warned, in a tone similar to that often used by Luis de la Fuente: "I ask everyone to let the kid grow calmly, not to put so much pressure on him for the good of football, so that we can all enjoy such a talent for many years to come."

“Lamine lives calmly through what for others is a highly stressful situation,” reveals De la Fuente.

The calmness that Lamine Yamal seems to display with this accelerated maturation he's experiencing thanks to his exploits with the ball is a quality that continues to surprise those around him. "He has a maturity that belies his age. He's a very well-prepared and very intelligent footballer; he's more mature than people his age," De la Fuente praised . "You'd be shocked by the calm and tranquility with which he faces these types of situations. What for others is extremely stressful, Lamine handles with normality and conviction. That's what makes him special," he added.

The young star from Rocafonda has a tough time keeping his feet on the ground. In every match he plays, he leaves a moment of grace, a goal, a dribble that stands out above the rest. Against France, for example, his two goals earned him the man of the match award . Praise is pouring in. "I'm surprised that someone so young has the ability to be so consistent. There are positions where it's easier to find consistency, but winger is the hardest. That comes with experience, which is why Lamine's position is a unique one in football; he's a stellar player," praised Roberto Martínez, the Portuguese national team coach, before the final.

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As happened in the semifinal against France, the shadow of the Ballon d'Or will once again loom over Lamine. And, this time, no one better than Cristiano Ronaldo to bring up the topic. The Portuguese has five awards, winning his first in 2008, when he was 23. Now, at just 17, the Barça player seems to be gaining momentum with each passing day toward his debut in the trophies, which would be another historic achievement for him. His rivals are surrendering to his magic, and his teammates are no longer hiding anything; they openly proclaim him the best. The Nations Cup final is his last chance of the season to add merit to his list of achievements by lighting up the footballing scene. Portugal will try to prevent that. Let the ball roll.