Former player Florent Malouda has warned against comparing Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi with Cristiano Ronaldo.

In an interview with Racing Tipster, former France international and ex-Chelsea star Florent Malouda has heaped praise on young talent Lamine Yamal, while also calling for caution in comparisons.

The former France international believes that it is too hasty to put the 17-year-old on par with Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo at the moment, while emphasizing that preserving his individuality is of utmost importance.

When asked what Yamal needs to do to reach the level of the two legends mentioned above, Malouda commented: “It’s a bit too much to say that now, and it’s like erasing his own personality. Yamal may have been influenced by both Messi and Ronaldo, but it’s clear that he is making his own mark. Even though he’s still very young, he plays like a veteran.

I don’t think Messi or Ronaldo have done the same thing at this age. The important thing now is to stay consistent, keep growing and not get complacent. If Yamal sets the bar high enough for his talent, then he should be in the same conversation as those two legends. But there are many years and many games ahead of him to prove it.”

These comments come shortly after Barcelona’s disappointing defeat in the Champions League semi-finals, where Yamal had a brilliant performance in both legs against Inter, despite not being able to help the Catalans reach the final.

After the treble dream was shattered, Yamal and his teammates will look forward to the confrontation with Real Madrid in round 35 of La Liga, an arena where they are holding many advantages in the championship race.

If they beat Los Blancos for the fourth time, after winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup finals, Hansi Flick’s team will become the new La Liga champions with two rounds to spare. Currently, the gap between the two teams is four points.