At only 18, Lamine Yamal is already seen as the future symbol of Barcelona, yet he faces a major challenge in sustaining peak form.

As Barcelona places high hopes on the 2025–26 season, Robert Lewandowski has offered special advice to the young talent Lamine Yamal, who is regarded as the club’s future.

Lewandowski, now in the twilight of his career, understands the importance of endurance at the highest level. Meanwhile, 18-year-old Yamal is expected to become Barca’s brightest star for the next decade, potentially ushering in a new era. However, the biggest challenge for Yamal is not talent, but maintaining consistent performance and long-term mental resilience.

Lewandowski shared with The Times: “The challenge for him isn’t next year or the year after, but three years or longer, to keep the hunger alive in his mind. No one can keep the same feelings they had at 16 for 10 or 15 years. Even a 5% drop is enough to cause problems.”

The Polish star also expressed doubt about players maintaining a two-decade career when starting so young: “It’s not Yamal’s fault, but how the world operates today. With media attention and social networks, it’s not easy to keep the feeling of playing like you do in the backyard.”

Pressure has appeared early. Even a birthday party in the summer turned Yamal into a target of criticism, showing how every action of the young player is scrutinized. That’s why Lewandowski emphasizes Yamal must find balance and build mental strength to withstand off-field distractions.

Despite warning about the tough road ahead, Lewandowski cannot hide his admiration for his teammate’s natural talent: “I’ve seen many good players who needed time to mature. With Lamine, from the first training session, I noticed a kind of talent I had never seen at that age.”

If he maintains his spirit and ambition, Lamine Yamal can definitely become Barcelona’s new icon, as Lewandowski fully believes in his young teammate.