Onopko's harsh criticism of Yamal: 'You are not Messi or Ronaldo yet'

Russia national team head coach Viktor Onopko made remarkable statements following the match where Spain defeated Portugal 1-0 in the 2026 World Cup Round of 16. Evaluating the match's result, Onopko stated that Spain's narrow victory stemmed from the team's defensive discipline. Additionally, he attributed Portugal's failure to score despite their attacking power to the success of the Spanish defense. Onopko's remarks were not limited to the match result and focused particularly on the performance of Spain's young star, Lamine Yamal. The experienced manager also clearly expressed his criticisms regarding the young player's game.

Onopko used a very clear language while criticizing the performance of 17-year-old winger Lamine Yamal in the match. He emphasized that he respects Yamal's talents but stressed that he has not yet reached the level of the best players in the world. Noting that it is too early to compare him with legendary players like Messi and Ronaldo, he reminded that Yamal is still in his development process. He stated that the young player held onto the ball too much in certain parts of the match and struggled to involve his teammates in the game. Onopko added that such attitudes could cause problems for the team in top-level tournaments.

Spain's overall performance in the 2026 World Cup was also among Onopko's evaluations. He acknowledged that the Spanish team made a strong start to the tournament and managed to eliminate a strong opponent like Portugal in the Round of 16. However, he argued that the team's attacking efficiency could increase if players like Yamal adopted a more altruistic approach to the game. Onopko added that Spain is a title contender but their place on the final bus is not yet guaranteed. According to Onopko, it was certain that Spain would face more experienced and physically stronger opponents in the later stages of the tournament. Therefore, he stated that young players need to take on their responsibilities more consciously.

These statements by Viktor Onopko caused a wide resonance in Russia and the international football community. Onopko demonstrated that despite being the head of the Russia national team, he closely follows and analyzes international tournaments. A manager criticizing the players of opposing countries so openly was interpreted by some circles as an extraordinary move. Yamal's performance with the Barcelona and Spain jerseys had made him globally recognized despite his young age. For this reason, Onopko's criticisms were met with various reactions from Yamal's fans and the Spanish press. While some commentators argued that Onopko made fair criticisms, others claimed that an overly critical language was used against a young player.

This critical match between Spain and Portugal stood out as one of the most talked-about matches of the 2026 World Cup. Spain's 1-0 victory guaranteed the team's spot in the quarter-finals and once again proved their strong candidacy in the tournament. Portugal, on the other hand, was eliminated from the tournament, experiencing disappointment by being knocked out earlier than expected in the knockout round. Onopko's criticisms directed at Yamal became one of the most debated topics after the match. It is eagerly awaited how Spain will perform in the upcoming rounds of the World Cup and how Yamal will respond to these criticisms on the pitch. This incident once again highlighted the high expectations and pressure placed on young talents in the football world.