Cristiano Ronaldo On Playing Against FC Barcelona’s Lamine, With Messi

Cristiano Ronaldo spoke about facing next generation FC Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal ahead of their two countries Portugal and Spain meeting in the Nations League final on Sunday, and also warned against putting too much pressure on the youngster.

Furthermore, the five-time Ballon d’Or winner also discussed the possibility of playing alongside Lionel Messi.

Understandably so, the Nations League decider is being talked up as more Ronaldo vs. Lamine than a showdown between Iberian neighbors, which the veteran of the pair understands perfectly.

“It’s always like this. Whenever there is a final it is Cristiano against someone. You would have to compare Lamine with Vitinha, where there is less of an age difference, but they want to do it with Cristiano. It’s always Cristiano against someone, but it’s not like that. We play one team against another. What we want is to play a good game and win,” Ronaldo stated.

“The boy is doing things very, very well. The club and the national team help him a lot. He is in a conducive environment. But I ask that you let the boy grow up for the sake of football. Let him grow calmly and take the pressure off him. You can help him by leaving him alone because he does not lack talent,” he then added about Lamine.

“My son likes Lamine. I have a very special affection for Spain. The greatest talents have always been Spanish. Williams is a great player, Pedri is great… The coach has done a very top job, you can see that he puts discipline into them. I hope tomorrow will be a nice game and that Portugal can win.”

Asked about the Ballon d’Or for which Lamine is one of the favourites to take home the highest individual gong in the sport, Ronaldo said: “I like to give advice to anyone who wants to listen, but in private, face to face.”

“In my opinion, the Ballon d’Or should be won by those who stand out and win the Champions League. But there is no consensus. I don’t believe much in individual awards because I know what is being worked on behind the truth. But the boy (Lamine) has a chance… They are a bit irrelevant because there is not a 100% consensus,” Ronaldo then concluded about such awards.

Ronaldo was asked about the possibility of playing alongside Messi at Inter Miami or against him for an Argentine club.

“You know that I have a lot of affection for Argentina. I have had invitations to play the Club World Cup with [a club from]

Argentina. Never say never, but it’s very difficult.

“I really like Argentina. I never went and I want to go. I don’t have any preferred club. I have a lot of affection for Messi. We have been on stage together for 15 years. I used to translate things from English to Spanish at the galas..,” Ronaldo then trailed off.

Cristiano Ronaldo confirms that he won’t be at the Club World Cup

As things stand, though, Cristiano Ronaldo won’t play at the Club World Cup as he confirmed himself. “It’s irrelevant at this point. I prefer to talk about other things. I have had quite a few contacts, but you have to think in the short, medium and long term. I will not go to the Club World Cup, that is a fact,” he stated.