My bad game equals 400 games from others — Yamal

Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal has spoken about the unusually high expectations surrounding his performances, saying even a poor display from him attracts far greater scrutiny than similar performances from other players.

Yamal, who has emerged as one of the most prominent young players in world football, said his standards are judged differently because of the expectations placed on him.

“A bad game from Lamine Yamal is equivalent to 400 bad games from any other person,” he said in an interview with The Guardian.

The 19-year-old also claimed that even when he delivers what he considers an excellent performance, his display can still be judged below that level.

“I have a 9/10 game and people will say it was a seven,” Yamal said.

The Barcelona forward has been under intense attention since breaking into the club’s first team as a teenager, with his performances regularly attracting widespread debate among supporters and football analysts.

His comments highlight the pressure that comes with being regarded as one of the leading young talents in the game.