Lamine Yamal spoke to L’Équipe after being nominated for the Ballon d'Or and the Kopa Trophy, with the latter being the one he is the favorite to win. In this interview with the French media, he revealed who the toughest opponent he has ever faced is, and the biggest surprise is that it's not human…

Despite being in one of the best moments of his young and promising career, Lamine Yamal also faces challenges: "I'm a guy who doesn't like being at a higher level, like what happened to me in youth categories, because I don't like to relax or take it easy. I always prefer it to be more difficult. I’d rather not play than play everything and have it be too easy," he stated.

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But, who is the toughest opponent Lamine Yamal has ever faced?

It’s not the 20-year-olds he faced when he was just 11, nor great defenders like Rüdiger or Carvajal, but his dogs: "I always played with my dogs because my father said they wouldn’t bite, so I’d run with them. Playing against a dog is the hardest thing you can do."

When you're so good that humanity isn’t enough to push your potential, man's best friend is the answer to improving on the field. At least, this has been part of the success that Lamine Yamal has achieved recently.

Neymar: Lamine Yamal's greatest inspiration

Lamine Yamal has amazed football fans in every tournament he plays, with his great skill and youthful rebellion, he has become the breakout star of world football. Now we ask ourselves: Who is the player that inspired Lamine Yamal?

Although Lionel Messi was one of the players he focused on to improve, Neymar is one of the biggest inspirations for the young Spaniard to shine on the pitch: "I used to go to a friend's house who had a computer to watch Neymar videos all afternoon, and when I got home to sleep, I would practice in my room."

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