Comparing young football talents is always tricky, but the comparisons between Rodrygo Goes and Lamine Yamal have raised eyebrows.
While both players have had impressive seasons, the stats reveal that these comparisons are not only unfair but also disrespectful to the versatility and performance of Rodrygo.
If we were to compare their overall season stats it would not be fair to the young Spanish lad because although he played almost the same number of games as Rodrygo, (50, just 1 less than Rodrygo's 51), the Real Madrid and Brazil winger managed 25 goal contributions to Lamine’s 17.
So we choose to compare their La Liga performances instead because it’s the competition where they played the same opponents over the same period.
Rodrygo's Stellar Performance in the 2023/24 La Liga:
Rodrygo Goes had a standout league season in 2023/24 helping Real Madrid lift the title. Playing 34 games and amassing 2,388 minutes, he netted 10 goals, all non-penalty.
With a conversion rate of 14.93%, Rodrygo proved his efficiency in front of goal. His ability to score from various positions on the pitch, predominantly with his right foot, made him a consistent threat.
Key Stats:
Games Played: 34
Goals: 10 (9 inside the box, 1 outside)
Assists: 5
Chances Created: 44
Dribbles Completed: 60
Dribbles Success Rate: 46.88%
Fouls Won: 46
Rodrygo also contributed significantly to his team's success by winning four matches with his goals. His versatility allowed him to excel even when played out of his favoured position on the left wing.
Yamal's Impressive, But Lacking League Season:
Lamine Yamal also had a strong season for Barca in the league as they fought their way to finish second on the league table, playing 37 games with 2,192 minutes. He scored five goals, all non-penalty, with a conversion rate of 11.36%.
While his left foot was his primary weapon, he managed to score one goal from outside the box, showcasing his range.
Key Stats:
Games Played: 37
Goals: 5 (4 inside the box, 1 outside)
Assists: 5
Chances Created: 36
Dribbles Completed: 70
Dribbles Success Rate: 54.69%
Fouls Won: 52
Yamal showed his skill in creating opportunities and his ability to beat defenders with a higher dribble success rate. Despite this, his overall impact in terms of goals and assists was less compared to Rodrygo.
Versatility: Rodrygo’s Ability to Play Anywhere Upfront Simply is Unmatched
One of the most significant aspects where Rodrygo outshines Yamal is his versatility. Rodrygo has played effectively in multiple positions: left winger, right winger, centre forward, attacking midfielder, and second striker.
This flexibility has allowed him to adapt to different tactical setups and contribute wherever needed and even though his favourite left-wing position belongs to Vini Jr, the former Santos man still manages to be useful and effective in other positions, something of every manager’s dream.
Rodrygo's Position Breakdown:
Left Winger: 65 games, 27 goals/assists
Right Winger: 114 games, 53 goals/assists
Centre Forward: 74 games, 30 goals/assists
Attacking Midfielder: 3 games, 1 goal/assist
Second Striker: 1 game, 0 goals/assists
Yamal's Position Breakdown:
Right Winger: 50 games, 17 goals/assists
Left Winger: 8 games, 0 goals/assists
Centre Forward: 1 game, 0 goals/assists
Rodrygo's ability to perform in various roles and still deliver top-notch performances highlights his superior tactical awareness and adaptability compared to Yamal, who has primarily played as a right winger.
Conclusion:
Rodrygo's 2023/24 season stats, versatility, and consistent performance make the comparisons to Yamal unfounded and disrespectful. While Yamal is undoubtedly talented, Rodrygo's ability to shine in multiple positions and deliver critical contributions to his team sets him apart.
It's essential to recognize and respect the unique strengths of each player rather than making unfair comparisons. Also, Yamal is just 17, and a long way off being 23, and if Ansu Fati is anything to go by, his comparisons to a Rodrygo that has been at the very top of football for more than 3 seasons now could be premature.
You can check out today's games on MSport here.
As the curtains close on the 2024 Euro and Copa America, the tournaments have unveiled a plethora of exceptional talents and memorable performances. Among the standout players are those who topped the statistics charts, showcasing their skills in scoring, assisting, and overall gameplay.
However, notable stars like Rodri and Lionel Messi fell short in certain key areas, allowing other players to shine brightly, and in this feature article, MSport analyses all such top performers for you.
Euro 2024 Stat Leaders
Goal Involvements and Scoring:
Dani Olmo and Lamine Yamal emerged as the leaders in goal involvements at the Euros, each contributing to five goals. Olmo managed three goals and two assists in 431 minutes, while Yamal scored once and provided four assists in 506 minutes. Georges Mikautadze also made a significant impact with four goal involvements in just 347 minutes.
When it came to scoring, Ivan Schranz, Georges Mikautadze, and Jamal Musiala each netted three goals. Schranz had the best minutes-per-goal ratio, scoring every 335 minutes, slightly edging out Mikautadze and Musiala.
Assists and Playmaking:
Lamine Yamal led the tournament in assists with four, while Xavi Simons and Orkun Kökçü followed with three and two, respectively. Yamal’s creativity was further highlighted by his eight big chances created, the most in the tournament.
Toni Kroos dominated in distributing the ball, making 88 passes into the final third, followed by Aurélien Tchouaméni with 78. John Stones was the most accurate passer, completing 525 passes, with Kroos and Declan Rice close behind.
Dribbling and Defensive Efforts:
Kylian Mbappé and Jude Bellingham were the most successful dribblers, each completing 17 dribbles, followed by Jérémy Doku with 16. In terms of touches in the penalty area, Mbappé led with 46, while Bellingham was also prominent with 34.
Defensively, Declan Rice made the most tackles with 19, while Josip Šutalo topped interceptions with 13. Bellingham again stood out by winning the most duels (55) and possession in the final third (14), highlighting his all-round contribution.
Copa America Stat Leaders
Top Scorers and Playmakers:
Lautaro Martinez of Argentina was the top scorer at Copa America with five goals, followed by José Salomon Rondon with three. Colombia's James Rodriguez dominated the assists chart with six, far ahead of the next best, Uruguay's Nicolás de la Cruz and Argentina's Alexis Mac Allister, both with two.
Rodriguez also led in combined goals and assists with seven, showcasing his crucial role in Colombia’s attack. Martinez followed with five, while Rondon had four.
Creativity and Passing:
James Rodriguez’s playmaking abilities were unparalleled, creating 20 chances. Nicolás de la Cruz and Lionel Messi each created 14 chances, demonstrating their importance to their respective teams.
In passing accuracy, Marquinhos of Brazil topped the charts with 65.3 accurate passes per 90 minutes, followed by Argentina’s Leandro Paredes and Cristian Romero. Marquinhos also led in accurate long balls per 90 minutes with six.
Defensive Mastery and Dribbling:
Jon Aramburu of Venezuela was a standout in defence with 6.2 successful tackles per 90 minutes. Brazil’s Lucas Paquetá and Uruguay’s Manuel Ugarte followed with 3.7 and 3.5, respectively. Luis Haquin of Bolivia led in interceptions with 3.3 per 90 minutes, with Uruguay’s Rodrigo Bentancur close behind.
In terms of dribbling, Savio from Brazil dazzled with 6.2 successful dribbles per 90 minutes, well ahead of Chile’s Marcos Bolados and Colombia’s Richard Rios.
Possession and Aggression:
Venezuela’s Darwin Machis was the best at winning possession in the final third with 2.2 per 90 minutes. Julio Enciso of Paraguay and Álvaro Zamora of Costa Rica followed closely, indicating their high pressing styles.
Conclusion:
While stars like Rodri and Messi were held for who they were, 2024 Euro and Copa America highlighted the rise of new talents and the consistent excellence of established players.
Performers like Dani Olmo, Lamine Yamal,Jude Bellingham, Lautaro Martinez, and James Rodriguez stole the spotlight with their contributions, setting the stage for an exciting future in international football.
You can check out today’s games on MSport here.