Did he strike down Vinícius? What Rivaldo thinks of the Real Madrid player

Former Barcelona star Rivaldo has stirred up controversy with his latest comments, comparing young Barcelona talent Lamine Yamal to Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Paris Saint-Germain's Kylian Mbappé. Rivaldo, speaking at a promotional event for Betfair, placed the 16-year-old Yamal on the same level as two of the world's most celebrated young forwards.

"He is a great player. I admire him because he has personality despite being young. But he already has a very high level. I think he is already at the level of Mbappé and Vinicius," Rivaldo stated.

The Brazilian legend's comments have not been well-received by Real Madrid fans, who took to social media to express their disbelief. Many argued that while Yamal is a promising talent, it is too early to compare him to players of Mbappé and Vinicius' caliber, who have already achieved significant success at the highest level of the sport.

Rivaldo's assessment comes after Yamal became the youngest player to represent Spain in a competitive match. His performances for Barcelona have drawn comparisons to some of the greatest attacking talents in the game, and his potential is seen as limitless.

The debate over the relative merits of young players is a common one in football, and Rivaldo's comments are sure to fuel the discussion for some time to come. While it is true that Yamal has shown immense promise, only time will tell whether he can live up to the lofty expectations that have been placed upon him.