According to a report by GOAL on Friday November 6, 2026, former Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski has issued a warning to Lamine Yamal about the challenges of maintaining success at the highest level of football, despite praising the youngster's extraordinary talent.

Lewandowski, who recently left Barcelona to join Major League Soccer side Chicago Fire, played alongside Yamal during the early stages of the teenager's breakthrough into the first team.

The Polish international first encountered the winger when he was just 15 years old and was immediately impressed by his ability.

Speaking in an interview with Big Cat, Lewandowski joked about the significant age difference between them, revealing that he was two years older than Yamal's father.

"I'm two years older than his father, you know? So just imagine: playing with someone who could be my son… It's crazy," he said.

Despite the age difference, the former Barcelona forward had no doubts about the youngster's exceptional qualities.

"Right from the start, you could tell he was a different sort of player, a special player," Lewandowski added.

However, the experienced striker believes Yamal's biggest challenge will be sustaining his performances and remaining among the world's best players as he gets older.

"I think his biggest challenge will be staying at the top in the long term," Lewandowski warned.

"If you start so young, it's much harder to stay at the top when you reach 28, 30, or 32."

Lewandowski also expressed concerns about the financial rewards young footballers now receive early in their careers, suggesting that the modern football environment is different from the one in which previous generations developed.

"Now they start earning money very early on. It's not like it used to be, when we had to be more patient," he explained.

The striker further pointed out that young players can quickly receive huge contracts and attract significant financial investments after scoring just a few goals.

For Yamal, who has already established himself as one of Barcelona's most important players despite his young age, the coming years will be crucial in determining how far his career can go.

Lewandowski believes the responsibility for ensuring the teenager fulfils his potential rests on both the player and the club.

"It all depends on the players and the club, and on what they need," he concluded.

The 38-year-old's comments serve as advice to Yamal rather than criticism, with the former Barcelona striker recognising the teenager's enormous potential while stressing that talent alone is not enough to guarantee a successful career.