Cristiano Ronaldo’s reaction caught on camera after Lamine Yamal says he doesn’t want to compare himself to Portugal captain

After Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal claimed he did not want to compare himself to legendary forward Cristiano Ronaldo, the latter's heart-warming reaction was caught on camera.

Yamal has taken the world by storm since he burst into Barca's first-team squad as a 15-year-old in 2023. Although he just turned 18 earlier this year, he has already bagged 34 goals and 45 assists in 126 games for the Blaugrana.

He has also made an incredible impact for the Spanish national team. He was the Young Player of the Tournament in La Roja's victorious EURO 2024 campaign and nearly added another trophy this year, losing to Portugal in the UEFA Nations League final on penalties.

At the recent Globe Soccer Awards, Yamal was named the Best Forward and Best Under-23 Player. When asked who he would like to be compared to, the Spaniard gave an answer that was appreciated by Ronaldo, who was also in attendance.

The youngster said (via Mirror):

"In the end, it's best not to compare yourself to anyone. Players like Cristiano Ronaldo did what they did because they wanted to be themselves and not compare themselves to others. I want to build my own path."

The camera turned to the Portuguese stalwart. He was seen smiling and giving his approval to the confident words of the Barcelona star.

Ronaldo himself bagged two awards on the night. The former Manchester United and Real Madrid star was named the Best Middle Eastern Player and the Top Goalscorer of All Time.

Cristiano Ronaldo has openly showed his admiration for Lamine Yamal in the past

In June 2025, prior to the UEFA Nations League final, Cristiano Ronaldo labelled Lamine Yamal as a 'phenomenon' and predicted that he would dominate world football for years to come.

The 40-year-old said (via Mirror):

"He's going to win a lot of titles, both collective and individual. He's only 17 years old... I repeat: he's a kid with a lot of room for improvement. He's a phenomenon, but we have to leave him alone, that's what I ask. He has a very long career ahead of him and will surely win the Nations League many times."

Last year, on his UR YouTube channel, the Al-Nassr superstar claimed that the Barcelona youngster has huge potential but needs luck on his side. He said:

"He's got a huge potential. I see a lot of talent. But let's see during his journey what's going to happen... I think he'll make it. He will be the best player of this new generation. He needs luck because he is very young. I hope he doesn't have any problems."

Depending on results, the next time Yamal and Ronaldo potentially go head-to-head could be at next year's FIFA World Cup. While it is the former's first appearance at the tournament, it is likely to be the latter's final appearance at the footballing extravaganza.

Edited by Aaryan Nagraj