Former Real Madrid midfielder and manager Zinedine Zidane has expressed his admiration for Barcelona's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, stating he has "never seen anything like" the 17-year-old prodigy.

Zidane, widely regarded as one of football's greatest ever players, was particularly impressed by Yamal's performance in Barcelona's recent UEFA Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan, despite the Catalan club's elimination from the competition.

"When you see him play, for example, in the semi-finals against Inter... I've never seen anything like that in my life," Zidane said in an interview quoted by MARCA.

"He's someone who has so much control on the pitch... It's fabulous to see him like that. We all have fun with him and that's why, for all the young players, Lamine is the player to look at," the French legend added.

Barcelona exited the Champions League following a thrilling 7-6 aggregate loss to Inter Milan in the semi-finals. Despite the disappointment, Yamal's exceptional performances across both legs earned him widespread acclaim from fans and pundits alike.

The Spanish international has been a revelation for Barcelona this season, amassing an impressive 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions. His remarkable consistency and maturity beyond his years have established him as one of football's most exciting young talents.

Such has been Yamal's impact that he is now considered a contender for the 2025 Ballon d'Or, an extraordinary achievement for a player who only turned 17 this season.

Zidane's praise carries significant weight given his own illustrious career as both a player and coach, having won the Champions League three times consecutively as Real Madrid manager between 2016 and 2018.

For a figure of Zidane's stature to single out a Barcelona player for such effusive praise highlights just how special Yamal's talent is perceived to be within football's highest circles.