Barça’s Future Ballon d’Or Winner

Ahead of Bulgaria–Spain, Hristo Stoichkov spoke about Lamine Yamal, the FC Barcelona prodigy. The Bulgarian admitted that although Yamal is not the favorite this year, sooner or later the youngster will win the Ballon d’Or. “He will win it. When and how, he will decide. His path is unique; he shouldn’t compare himself to anyone,” said the former Barça striker.

Stoichkov also advised the Spanish winger to stay disciplined and avoid distractions off the field: “When you train, you train. When you play, you play. I don’t get involved in private life, but mixing it with football never ends well.”

Private Life Off the Pitch

In recent weeks, Lamine Yamal has made headlines for reasons beyond the pitch. Stoichkov was blunt: “I also went out, so what? As long as you’re there for your teammates, the coach, and the team, nothing else should matter.” For the Barça legend, the media’s focus on the youngster’s personal life is exaggerated and shouldn’t affect his performance.

A Controversial Proposal for VAR

Beyond Yamal, Stoichkov also weighed in on VAR and its controversies. His solution: include former players in video review rooms. “Why not have a former defender or striker in VAR? They often see things a referee doesn’t. That would bring more fairness and fewer arguments,” he suggested.

For Stoichkov, video refereeing should only intervene in key situations, not constantly slow down games. A controversial idea, but one that shows the concern of a legend for the future of football.