Mbappe Urges Respect for 18-Year-Old Yamal as Rivalry with Barcelona Star Intensifies

Key Takeaways:

• The rivalry between Kylian Mbappe and Lamine Yamal has escalated at both club and international level over the past year
• Lamine Yamal’s Spain team defeated France in last year’s European Championship, and the youngster also excelled in matches against Real Madrid
• Mbappe publicly defended Yamal in a recent television interview, urging greater respect for the teenager’s privacy and lauding his talent

A Year of Rising Competition Between Mbappe and Yamal

The ongoing duel between Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal has grown more heated over the past twelve months. Their rivalry has captured headlines as the two players have come up against each other both at club level and on the international stage. Yamal’s influence was particularly evident when his Spain side overcame France in last year’s European Championship, and he also played a key role in triumphs against Real Madrid during the domestic season.

🚨 Kylian Mbappé: "Lamine Yamal? People talk a lot about his personal life, I think they should leave him alone. In football, he is a great player, but in life, he is an 18-year-old kid." pic.twitter.com/GDWYCJ2H8C

— Barça Universal (@BarcaUniversal) October 9, 2025

Mbappe Calls for Privacy and Praises Yamal’s Passion

Despite the high-stakes competition, Mbappe has spoken out with words of admiration for his young rival. In a recent television interview, he commended Yamal’s devotion to football and stressed the importance of maintaining the passion that has already set him apart in the game. Mbappe stated:

“Lamine Yamal’s shown he truly loves football and that passion’s something he should never lose. As for his personal life, that’s his own matter”

He continued by highlighting the significant media scrutiny surrounding Yamal’s personal life, urging that the young player be afforded the freedom to grow without such pressure:

“People talk a lot about his personal life but he’s just 18 year old. Everyone at that age makes mistakes and learns from them. What matters’s what he does on the pitch .. and there, he’s already fantastic”

Mutual Respect Between Europe’s Rising Talents

Mbappe concluded his remarks by encouraging Yamal to remain focused and pursue the career trajectory his talent promises:

“He’s incredibly talented and I hope he continues on his path & achieves the success he deserves. He just needs to stay focused on football”

These candid statements underscore the mutual respect between Mbappe and Yamal as their rivalry continues to develop. The dynamic between the Real Madrid and Barcelona stars has become a key storyline as both look set to shape the direction of European and world football for years to come.

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