Lamine Yamal breaks silence on comparisons with Lionel Messi

17-year-old young footballing sensation Lamine Yamal has been in great form for FC Barcelona and Spain. He has been impressing fans all over the world with his flair and is regarded as one of the best players in the world, currently. Recently, he has come out with a message following his comparison with Argentine legend Lionel Messi. Lamine Yamal played a major role for his club, FC Barcelona, and helped them win a domestic treble of the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España. This makes him a prominent player to win the Ballon d’Or this season. 

In a recent event for Adidas in Shanghai, China, Lamine Yamal opened up on his admiration for Lionel Messi and his comparison with the Barcelona legend.

He stated, 

“I’ve always tried to forge my own path. Of course, Messi is the greatest player in history for me, without a doubt. He’s left-footed, and so am I. He played for Barcelona, and I play for Barcelona. He played as a right winger, and so do I. We definitely have a lot in common, and that’s okay. I just want to carve my own path.”

Lamine added, 

“He wrote his legendary story, and I hope to have a successful career like his. But more importantly, I want to play football my way, to write my own story, and to make people remember the name Lamine Yamal.”

"For me, Messi is the greatest player in history"- Lamine Yamal 

In the 2024/25 season, Lamine Yamal managed 18 goals and 25 assists for FC Barcelona and 4 goals and 5 assists for Spain. The teenage sensation is considered a serious contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, alongside his teammate Raphina and Ousmane Dembele. As per reports, Lamine Yamal has overtaken Ansu Fati’s jersey number 10 for FC Barcelona, which Lionel Messi repped during his time at the club. He is expected to carry on the legacy that was once sparked by Lionel Messi, as no one was able to continue it until now. 

Lamine Yamal also referred to Messi as the greatest player, saying, 

"For me, Messi is the greatest player in history. Everything he did, all over the pitch, everything about his game, I liked it all, and it has truly been something beautiful for me.”

Spain (Lamine Yamal) and Argentina (Lionel Messi) are set to face each other soon in the Finalissima — a match played between the winners of the Copa América and the Euros.