People often say that “kids should act their age.” Why, then, are they expected to behave and play like seasoned professionals?
The concept of a ‘wonderkid’ has always been one of football’s exciting narratives, but the question remains: Are we burdening these players too early? Take the example of Lamine Yamal — at the tender age of 18, he is already being compared to Lionel Messi. Across Europe, Estevão Willian has been labelled ‘Messinho’ even before establishing himself fully at the senior level.
These comparisons seem honouring, but they come with a lot of invisible pressure and responsibility. Celebrating young talent is positive and encouraging, but early comparisons and unrealistic expectations not so much. Ethan Nwaneri made his debut for Arsenal at just 16, Barcelona’s Pau Cubarasi (19) has already become a regular for the team, drawing comparison to legends like Carles Puyol and Gerard Piqué.
Talent does not guarantee emotional maturity — the expectation that youngsters can perform like seasoned professionals is then illogical. Bojan Krkić, who was once hailed as the ‘Next Messi’, has said that he suffered with chronic anxiety and burnout after his meteoric rise. This emphasises the importance of how greatness should also be treated with kindness — mental health and extreme pressure is not a joke. The burden of performing well for yourself and a huge fandom is not easy.
The rise of social media has further intensified this pressure. Constant analysis and demand for instant success create an environment where every performance is scrutinised. A single mistake can turn praise into criticism over night — trolling, comparison reels, and hate comments can quickly become overwhelming and damaging for anyone.
Every sport needs its prodigies, but greatness cannot be forced. A player needs the opportunity to explore, make mistakes, and develop at their own pace. Expectations should never overpower their development — the aim should be to nurture talent and see the game of football grow with new techniques.
Expectations are natural, but they should feel encouraging and not forceful. Diamonds may be made under pressure, but human beings require patience, understanding, and care.
“Lamine Yamal in 2025” by Biso is licensed under CC BY 4.0.