Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal: Reaching Lionel Messi level impossible

Barcelona and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal feels it is impossible to reach Lionel Messi’s level. Messi is regarded as one of the best players in the world and has won everything in his glittering career.

Meanwhile, Yamal has taken the football world by storm with his insane skills and brilliant talent. Yamal, who is only 17, has shown the skills to go a long way in his young but promising career.

Last year, he became the youngest player to score in the La Liga history and the whole of the football world took notice when he made his Euro debut with Spain. 

The youngster played an instrumental role in taking Spain to Euro championships as he scored one goal and provided four assists in seven matches he played in the tournament.

“I like that they compare me to the greatest player in the history of football, but I want to be myself,” Yamal told Spanish TV station Antena 3 when asked about being talked about alongside the Argentina World Cup winner. “Reaching Messi’s level is impossible.”

Yamal featured in a 2007 photo shoot with Messi at just six months old, and made an appearance with the former Barcelona star in a charity calendar after winning a contest.

“Man, he passed along some of his powers to me,” Yamal said. “I still have a lot to give.”

After his stunning run in Euro 2024 in Germany, Transfermarkt valued Yamal’s transfer fee at €120 million. However, Yamal wants to keep playing for Barcelona forever.

“I don’t want those €120 million because then I would have to leave Barça,” he said. “I hope I never have to leave. I want to be a legend.”

When asked what he remembers about his club debut in 2023 at the age of 15, Yamal said: “I remember I arrived before anyone else and I had to eat breakfast, but I didn’t go. I waited by the bicycles and didn’t come out until everyone left.”