Here’s a polished and paraphrased version of your article:Barcelona Gears Up for Crucial UCL Clash as Totti Hails Lamine Yamal as Best in the World
Barcelona is set for a high-stakes showdown in the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals as they prepare to host Borussia Dortmund at the Montjuïc Stadium next Wednesday. With a challenging second leg awaiting them at Signal Iduna Park, coach Hansi Flick will be looking for a strong home performance to gain the upper hand.
Amid the build-up, Italian football icon Francesco Totti made headlines with his glowing praise for Barcelona’s rising sensation, Lamine Yamal. Speaking on the FIFA El Football podcast, Totti described the 17-year-old winger as “exceptional,” while also offering constructive criticism.
“Lamine Yamal is a phenomenal talent — he was outstanding during the Euros, almost like he was gliding above the pitch,” Totti said. “But since then, his performance has dipped slightly. He needs to score more goals — right now, the numbers are too low.”
Despite that, the Roma legend didn’t hold back in naming Yamal as his pick for the best player in the world, urging Flick to continue building the team around the young star.
“He’s the engine of Barcelona,” Totti continued. “Without him, they would struggle. He’s the answer to their toughest problems — a truly once-in-a-generation player.”
Totti also reflected on his own legacy, sharing, “I have no regrets. I didn’t need the Ballon d’Or. Staying with Roma for 25 years and winning with them was my greatest achievement.”
As Barcelona eyes European glory, the spotlight will certainly be on Lamine Yamal — a teenager already carrying the weight of great expectations, and now the endorsement of one of football’s greats.
