A Ballon d'Or winner has now likened Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal to himself.
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Brazil icon Rivaldo spent five years plying his trade in Catalonia. From 1997 to 2002, he won two LALIGA titles, a Copa del Rey title and a UEFA Super Cup with the Blaugrana.
His time with the Catalan giants also saw him capture the most prestigious individual award, the Ballon d'Or, in 1999.
Now, a new star looks to be on his way to winning the illustrious Golden Ball award in Lamine Yamal.
The teenage Spaniard has broken multiple records for club and country since the start of last season, and during the off-season, played a pivotal role in helping Spain win their record-setting fourth UEFA European Championship title.
He has started the 2024/25 campaign in fine form too, bagging five goals and six assists in 12 matches in all competitions so far, and it is all these factors combined that have seemingly led Rivaldo to claim that he sees attributes of himself in the young winger.
"At times, yes, because I went on to the pitch to enjoy football, that joy," the Paulista native told Sport when asked if he sees himself in Lamine Yamal.
"He has that joy, he plays to enjoy, he enjoys it and the fans do too. He is 17 years old and plays as if he were 26 or 27.
"He will surely be a great, he already is, he is doing a great job: he is a Euro champion, he did well in Barcelona... But one day he will be the best in the world."
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Quizzed on if he thinks Lamine Yamal could win the Ballon d'Or in the future, the 2002 FIFA World Cup winner answered: "Sure. He has to keep working because it's not easy, but if he does things right like he's doing, he'll surely win."
