FC Barcelona rising star Lamine Yamal has opened up on comparisons with Lionel Messi. Yamal has had a stellar year both at the club and international level and won the UEFA Euro 2024 with Spain.
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He was also in brilliant form for Barcelona during the 2023-24 season. His run of impressive of performances have inevitably led to comparisons with Messi.
“The truth is if you are being compared to Messi, the best player in history, it’s because you are doing things well. It doesn’t bother me, but obviously, I always try to be myself,” Yamal said.
Yamal recently became the youngest-ever Ballon d’Or nominee – an award that Messi has won a record eight times.
The 17-year-old has also taken shirt number 19 at Barcelona, once famously helmed by the Argentine before he switched to the iconic number 10.
Talking about how he wants to cement himself as a club icon, Yamal said, “For me, the most important thing is to leave a legacy, to have your career. In the end, being compared to Leo is more important than not looking at it.”
Regardless of all comparisons, Messi remains one of Yamal’s idols in the sport.
In an interview with GQ, the young star had named Messi and Neymar Junior as his two role models in football. “I have two role models in football: Messi and Neymar. Neymar for his awesome way of playing, and Messi because he’s the best player in the whole world. The way I play is pretty unique and not often seen. Since I’m also left-handed and I kick with my right leg, some plays may look similar, but no one plays like Messi,” Yamal said.
Yamal remains in top form in the 2024-25 season having delivered some key performances for Barcelona. He has already registered a goal and four assists in his first four matches in the Spanish top flight football.
As for Messi, the Argentine is still in recovery mode after his injury in the Copa America final in 2024 against Colombia.
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