In an interview, the Chelsea midfielder said, “I think the best player in the world right now is that youngster from Barcelona — Lamine Yamal.”
Many people might be surprised to hear this because Yamal is only 17 years old. However, if you’ve watched his performances this season, you might agree with Palmer.
Yamal represented Barcelona in the 2024/25 Champions League season. Although Barcelona didn’t make it to the final, losing to Inter Milan in the semifinals, Yamal turned heads with his performances. He scored five goals and had five assists throughout the season. That’s impressive for someone who just turned 17.
And it’s not just in the Champions League; Yamal has also been impressive in the domestic league. Recently, in the Spanish national derby between Barcelona and Real Madrid, Yamal scored a crucial goal, helping his team win 4-2. A few days later, he scored a goal and had an assist against Espanyol, helping Barcelona win the La Liga title for the 28th time in team history.
When Palmer was asked what he thought of Yamal, he said, “The kid is amazing. I’m not exaggerating. I think he’s playing the best soccer in the world right now.” Palmer added, “When you watch Barcelona play, you see that a lot of attacks start at his feet. Every time I watch him play, I just shake my head and say, ‘That’s crazy.’”
Palmer singled out Yamal’s calmness and confidence: “You can tell by the way he plays that this kid is not afraid of the big game at all. He’s brave and thoughtful. I really enjoy watching him play.”
When a reporter asked if it was difficult to play with such composure at seventeen, he replied, Palmer laughed and replied, “I don’t know, because I’ve never tried!” This joke lightened the atmosphere.
During the interview, in addition to complimenting Yamal, Palmer also talked about his team, Chelsea. They are currently fifth in the Premier League, just shy of the top four, and are trying to qualify for the Champions League next season. They also have to prepare for their match against Real Betis on May 29, the English League Cup final.
Overall, Palmer speaks highly of Yamal, making us even more excited about the young player’s future. It may not be long before Yamal’s name becomes synonymous with world-class soccer.