On the verge of another challenge with the Portugal national team, Cristiano Ronaldo is preparing to face a strong Spain side in the UEFA Nations League final. At 39 years old, the veteran striker could be playing one of his last matches for his country, and he took the opportunity to share his thoughts on the present and future of world football.

During a pre-match press conference, the Portuguese star appeared calm and thoughtful, offering several noteworthy remarks. One of the main topics was the rise of Lamine Yamal, the young Barcelona talent who, at just 17, is already making headlines for both his club and the Spanish national team.

This is what Cristiano thinks about being compared to Lamine Yamal

Rather than feed into the narrative of a "generational handover" between himself and the Spanish wonderkid, Cristiano Ronaldo urged for a more measured approach, asking that Lamine Yamal be given space to grow. “The kid is doing very well, but the best thing we can do for him is let him develop at his own pace, without external pressure,” said the Portuguese captain.

Ronaldo also emphasized that comparisons are inevitable, but they shouldn’t be with him. “We’re from different generations. It makes more sense to compare him to players his age, like Vitinha,” he explained. He even joked about how close in age Yamal is to his own son, adding with a smile, “They look alike—even their skin tone is similar.”

On individual awards and the value of the Ballon d'Or

The Al Nassr forward also spoke about individual accolades in football, a hot topic whenever new stars emerge. While he acknowledged the talent of Yamal, as well as players like Kylian Mbappé and Ousmane Dembélé, he was blunt about the declining importance of personal awards. “In my opinion, the Ballon d'Or should go to whoever wins the Champions League. But nowadays there’s no clear standard, and that takes away from its value,” he said.

Speaking with maturity, Cristiano avoided confirming any plans to retire, though he admitted the end is near. “I enjoy the present, but I know there’s not much time left. One day, I may just decide to stop playing,” he revealed.

For now, his focus is clear: beating Spain and adding another trophy to his legacy with Portugal. It may be his final grand act, but his ambition remains as strong as ever.