{"id":10158,"date":"2025-06-20T17:46:34","date_gmt":"2025-06-20T17:46:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/?p=10158"},"modified":"2025-06-20T17:46:36","modified_gmt":"2025-06-20T17:46:36","slug":"football-isnt-dead-yamal-doue","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/football-isnt-dead-yamal-doue","title":{"rendered":"Football isn&#8217;t dead; Lamine Yamal and Desire Doue have proved that"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Football\u2019s obituary has been written a thousand times. Too many passes. Not enough flair. The game\u2019s gone soft, they say. But then <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lamine-yamal-131182\">Lamine Yamal<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/desire-doue-109665\">D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9<\/a> step onto the pitch, and suddenly the doomsayers are eating their words. These two young guns\u201417 and 20, respectively\u2014are tearing up Europe with a swagger that screams, \u201cThe beautiful game? Yeah, it\u2019s still here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yamal\u2019s dazzling runs for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/fc-barcelona-132\">Barcelona<\/a> and Spain, paired with Dou\u00e9\u2019s electric displays for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/psg-480\">PSG<\/a>, are proof that football\u2019s soul is alive, pulsing with creativity and audacity. From Nations League thrillers to Champions League masterclasses, these kids are rewriting the script. Let\u2019s dive into why Yamal and Dou\u00e9 are the spark football needed, and why the game\u2019s far from dead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><h2>Yamal vs Doue: Enjoy them both<\/h2><nav><ul><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-prodigies-stealing-the-show\">The Prodigies Stealing the Show<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#yamal-vs-doue-a-rivalry-for-the-ages\">Yamal vs. Dou\u00e9: A Rivalry for the Ages<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#why-football-needed-this\">Why Football Needed This<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-ballon-d-or-buzz\">The Ballon d\u2019Or Buzz<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-futures-bright-the-futures-now\">The Future\u2019s Bright, The Future\u2019s Now<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#why-this-matters\">Why This Matters<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-prodigies-stealing-the-show\">The Prodigies Stealing the Show<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Football\u2019s been craving a new generation to carry the torch, and Yamal and Dou\u00e9 are delivering. Both are barely old enough to vote, yet they\u2019re already headlining Europe\u2019s biggest stages. Yamal, Barcelona\u2019s golden boy, has racked up 18 goals and 21 assists in 55 games this season, helping the Catalans secure a La Liga and Copa del Rey double.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Dou\u00e9, PSG\u2019s rising star, exploded with 15 goals and 14 assists, culminating in a man-of-the-match performance in their 5-0 Champions League final rout of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/team\/inter-milan-224\">Inter Milan<\/a>. These aren\u2019t just numbers\u2014they\u2019re statements. Both made the Champions League team of the season, with Dou\u00e9 edging out Yamal for the Young Player award.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their styles? Pure box office. Yamal\u2019s left foot is a wand, weaving trivela passes and curling shots that leave defenders dizzy. His second goal in Spain\u2019s 5-4 Nations League semi-final win over France\u2014a cheeky chip after a mazy run\u2014had fans gasping. Dou\u00e9, meanwhile, is a human highlight reel, blending Neymar-esque flair with a knack for clutch moments. His long-range screamer against Aston Villa in the Champions League quarters went viral, and his two goals in the final cemented his stardom. Together, they\u2019re not just playing football\u2014they\u2019re putting on a show.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\r\n<p dir=\"ltr\" lang=\"es\">Cristiano Ronaldo sees a spark in Lamine Yamal \ud83d\udd25 <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/O1wpbmSNpA\">pic.twitter.com\/O1wpbmSNpA<\/a><\/p>\r\n\u2014 365Scores (@365Scores) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/365Scores\/status\/1931314450008539153?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">June 7, 2025<\/a><\/blockquote>\r\n<p><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"yamal-vs-doue-a-rivalry-for-the-ages\">Yamal vs. Dou\u00e9: A Rivalry for the Ages<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The comparisons to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/lionel-messi-874\">Messi<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/player\/cristiano-ronaldo-817\">Ronaldo<\/a> are inevitable, but let\u2019s not get carried away\u2014yet. Yamal and Dou\u00e9 aren\u2019t carbon copies of the legends; they\u2019re carving their own paths. Their head-to-head clashes, like Spain\u2019s 5-4 Nations League win over France, are already the stuff of lore. Yamal ran rings around Dou\u00e9 that night, scoring twice and leaving the PSG starlet chasing shadows. But Dou\u00e9 got his revenge in the Champions League, outshining Yamal as PSG knocked out Barcelona in the quarters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their rivalry isn\u2019t just about bragging rights\u2014it\u2019s pushing them to new heights. Yamal\u2019s 20 caps for Spain at 17 show a maturity beyond his years, with nine goals and 13 assists in La Liga alone. Dou\u00e9, named player of the match in the Champions League final, has a \u20ac109 million valuation, trailing only Yamal\u2019s eye-watering \u20ac350 million. Both are Ballon d\u2019Or contenders, with Yamal\u2019s 21 assists edging Dou\u00e9\u2019s 14. This isn\u2019t Messi vs. Ronaldo 2.0\u2014it\u2019s Yamal vs. Dou\u00e9, a fresh saga for a new era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"985\" height=\"1024\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/ronaldo-vs-messi-header-image-1-985x1024.jpg\" alt=\"ronaldo vs messi \" class=\"wp-image-8253\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Via 365Scores)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-football-needed-this\">Why Football Needed This<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The \u201cfootball is dead\u201d crowd loves to moan about tiki-taka overload and soulless stats. But Yamal and Dou\u00e9 are the antidote. They\u2019re not robots programmed by Pep Guardiola\u2019s playbook\u2014they\u2019re streetballers with a point to prove. Yamal\u2019s audacious dribbles, like his nutmeg on Dou\u00e9 in the Nations League, scream playground flair. Dou\u00e9\u2019s fearless runs and long-range rockets evoke the days of Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. They\u2019re not just playing to win; they\u2019re playing to entertain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The game\u2019s been accused of losing its edge, with too many sideways passes and not enough magic. These two are flipping the script. Yamal\u2019s ability to break into the box and finish with either foot\u201429 of his 31 senior goals are left-footed\u2014makes him unpredictable. Dou\u00e9\u2019s 13 goals post-Christmas for PSG showed he can turn games on their head, with his Champions League final brace proving he\u2019s built for the big stage. They\u2019re not waiting for permission to shine\u2014they\u2019re taking it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"702\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/GettyImages-2181469930-1-1024x702.jpg\" alt=\"MADRID, SPAIN - OCTOBER 26: Raphinha of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team's fourth goal with teammates Robert Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal during the LaLiga match between Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on October 26, 2024 in Madrid, Spain. \" class=\"wp-image-8945\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Angel Martinez\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-ballon-d-or-buzz\">The Ballon d\u2019Or Buzz<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>The 2025 Ballon d\u2019Or race is heating up, and Yamal and Dou\u00e9 are right in the mix. PSG\u2019s Ousmane Demb\u00e9l\u00e9 might be the favorite with his 33 goals and 13 assists, but Yamal\u2019s not far behind. His La Liga dominance and Euro 2024 heroics\u2014where he won Young Player and Goal of the Tournament\u2014have pundits calling him a \u201conce-in-50-years talent.\u201d Dou\u00e9, though, has the Champions League crown, and his final performance might tip the scales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Cristiano Ronaldo, still kicking at 40, weighed in, urging fans to ease the pressure on Yamal. \u201cLet him grow,\u201d he said, praising the Spaniard\u2019s potential but warning against hype overload. Luis Su\u00e1rez echoed that, calling Yamal a player \u201cdefining an era.\u201d Dou\u00e9\u2019s gotten similar love, with Nuno Mendes backing him for the Ballon d\u2019Or after shutting down Yamal in Portugal\u2019s Nations League final win. Whoever takes the gong, these two are making the race fun again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"628\" src=\"\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/POTM-MAY-MAGAZINE-PLAYER-DOUE-1024x628.jpg\" alt=\"Desire Doue is a serious talent\" class=\"wp-image-9913\"\/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-futures-bright-the-futures-now\">The Future\u2019s Bright, The Future\u2019s Now<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Yamal and Dou\u00e9 aren\u2019t just the future\u2014they\u2019re the present. Yamal\u2019s new \u00a333.5 million-a-year Barcelona deal makes him one of the club\u2019s top earners, a testament to his market value. Dou\u00e9\u2019s \u20ac109 million price tag reflects PSG\u2019s faith in their gem. Both are locked in for the Club World Cup, where their flair could light up the global stage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Their impact goes beyond stats. Yamal\u2019s Euro 2024 curler and Dou\u00e9\u2019s Champions League thunderbolt are moments that remind fans why they fell in love with football. They\u2019re not just replacing Messi and Ronaldo\u2014they\u2019re redefining what stardom looks like. Yamal\u2019s got the charisma, Dou\u00e9\u2019s got the cool, and together, they\u2019re proving football\u2019s heart is still beating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"715\" src=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/GettyImages-2218816986-1024x715.jpg\" alt=\"STUTTGART, GERMANY - JUNE 05: Desire Doue of France is challenged by Lamine Yamal of Spain during the UEFA Nations League 2025 semifinal match between Spain and France at Stuttgart Arena on June 05, 2025 in Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke - UEFA\/UEFA via Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-10191\" style=\"width:838px;height:auto\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">(Photo by Christian Kaspar-Bartke &#8211; UEFA\/UEFA via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"why-this-matters\">Why This Matters<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Football\u2019s always had its doubters, but Yamal and Dou\u00e9 are shutting them up. Their fearlessness, creativity, and big-game mentality are a middle finger to the \u201cgame\u2019s gone\u201d brigade. Yamal\u2019s 100-plus Barcelona appearances at 17 and Dou\u00e9\u2019s Champions League final heroics at 20 show they\u2019re not waiting for their moment\u2014they\u2019re seizing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The game\u2019s evolving, but these two are proof it\u2019s not dying. They\u2019re bringing back the joy, the audacity, the soul. Whether it\u2019s Yamal humiliating defenders or Dou\u00e9 rewriting PSG\u2019s history, they\u2019re reminding us that football\u2019s magic isn\u2019t in the past\u2014it\u2019s right here, right now. So, grab a seat, because this show\u2019s just getting started.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<p><em>By Nicky Helfgott &#8211; <\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/NickyHelfgott1\"><em>NickyHelfgott1 on X (Twitter<\/em>)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Keep up with all the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\">latest football news<\/a> and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\" data-type=\"link\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/en-us\/football\/league\/premier-league-7\/news\"> Premier League news<\/a> on 365Scores!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Football\u2019s obituary has been written a thousand times. Too many passes. Not enough flair. The game\u2019s gone soft, they say. But then Lamine Yamal and D\u00e9sir\u00e9 Dou\u00e9 step onto the pitch, and suddenly the doomsayers are eating their words. These two young guns\u201417 and 20, respectively\u2014are tearing up Europe with a swagger that screams, \u201cThe &hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":29,"featured_media":10191,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[9],"tags":[3304,1095,3657,1005,26,2254,1887,160,1287,896,1350,3481,316,13,60],"class_list":["post-10158","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-soccer","tag-ballon-dor-2025","tag-barcelona","tag-champions-league-2025","tag-club-world-cup","tag-cristiano-ronaldo","tag-desire-doue","tag-euro-2024","tag-la-liga","tag-lamine-yamal","tag-luis-suarez","tag-nations-league","tag-nuno-mendes","tag-ousmane-dembele","tag-premier-league","tag-psg","article_type-discover","article_type-news","article_type-seo","entity_type-athlete","inspiration-365s-articles"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10158","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/29"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10158"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10158\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10193,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10158\/revisions\/10193"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10158"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10158"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.365scores.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10158"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}