The Kopa trophy is warned! Lamine Yamal symbolizes the dazzling speed with which a talent can impose itself at the highest level. At only 15 years, 9 months and 16 days, he already discovered the jersey of FC Barcelona on April 29, 2023. A year and three months later, he raised the euro with Spain, before finishing, at 18, second in the Ballon d'Or behind Ousmane Dembélé. A trajectory that is reminiscent of that of Boris Becker in tennis.
The German remains indeed the youngest winner of Wimbledon, crowned at 17 years old. His record, six major titles including three Wimbledon, two Australian Open and one US Open, has marked the history of sport. But this bright success, reached so early, was not without consequences, and Becker never managed to complete his work with Roland-Garros.
Questioned by TAKSPORTBecker entrusted his admiration for the Barcelona prodigy while pointing to the dangers of so early success. “Lamine is great, he is winning everything. He is the best young player in the world now. He reminds me myself at the age of 17 ”he admits. But behind these praise, the Sextle of Grand Slam winner alerts the possible pitfalls.
“A very high risk”
“Just see what is happening today at Lamine Yamal”advance Becker. “I think it runs a very high risk of encountering certain difficulties in ten or fifteen years. He comes from a very modest background and now, he and his whole family are rich and many people will approach him out of interest. He has lost all his private life. He needs to have two or three serious people around him. He must choose his friends, trust his family and build a security network »adds the former champion.
Becker speaks knowingly. He too has suffered from too brutal notoriety. “When I won Wimbledon at 17, I was still trying to mature and find my place around the world. After winning, whatever you do, that makes the headlines around the world and occupies the major titles of the most important newspapers ”he says. Before concluding, lucid: “I am happy to have won Wimbledon three times, but maybe in 17 years old, I was too young. I was still a child. »»
