Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal continues to attract admiration from some of football's biggest names, with former Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic becoming the latest to praise the teenager following Spain's victory over Portugal.
The Lamine Yamal Nuno Mendes battle was one of the biggest talking points ahead of Spain's Round of 16 encounter at the FIFA World Cup 2026, and despite mixed opinions regarding the winger's overall display, Vidic was left highly impressed by what he saw.
The Serbian believes the Barcelona star had a decisive influence on the contest, even suggesting that his relentless movement contributed to the injury suffered by the Portuguese full-back.
Vidic did not hide his admiration when discussing the Barcelona winger and even drew comparisons with one of the greatest players in football history.
Speaking about the teenager's qualities, the legendary Manchester United defender said,
"This lad is wonderful and special; he's a 'Mini Messi' in my opinion – that's what I call him.
Vidic compared Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi. (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
"He made him run down the wing several times with his dribbling tricks and ended up injuring Nuno Mendes on one of those runs."
Vidic also pointed towards the moment that changed the complexion of the game, when Nuno Mendes' injury concerns forced Portugal into an early substitution.
The Paris Saint-Germain defender left the pitch in the 56th minute and was replaced by Nelson Semedo after struggling physically following an intense duel with the Spanish international.
The former Serbian international went even further when discussing the influence of the Lamine Yamal performance against Portugal.
Vidic believes the constant pressure applied by the Barcelona attacker eventually took its toll on Mendes. Reflecting on the duel, he stated,
Lamine Yamal caused Nuno Mendes a lot of problems. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
"Lamine caused Nuno Mendes' injury. That's the kind of player he is.
"Lamine Yamal doesn't run in a straight line. He is always making runs with the ball and doing something incredible. It's simply a pleasure to watch him on the field."
The Lamine Yamal vs Nuno Mendes matchup had been heavily anticipated before kick-off, particularly because the Portuguese defender had managed to keep the Barcelona winger under control in previous meetings.
Although Yamal was unable to dominate the game in his usual fashion, his persistence and willingness to attack defenders continued to create problems throughout the contest.
Spain ultimately secured a place in the quarter-finals, while Portugal saw their World Cup campaign come to an end.
Source: A Bola
