Lamine Yamal said that it would be impossible to reach Lionel Messi’s level during his career, despite having been through an incredible breakout season. (More Football News)
The 17-year-old made 37 leagu♛e appearances for Barcelona last season and was thrust further into the public eye as he helped Spain win Euro 2024 in Germany.
Ya♍mal, who was 16 for much of the tournament having celebrated his birthday before the final, swept the boards at the competition, winning Young Player of the Tournament, Goal of the Tournament and was also named in the Team of th▨e Tournament.
The teenage sensation also laid on four assists in seven appearances over the summer and has made a de🍸cent start to the 2024-25 season as one of Barcelona’s main men.
In four L๊aLiga appearances, he has scored once and suppli🃏ed four assists, with his 11 chances created a total only bettered by team-mate Raphinha (12) and Vinicius Junior (15) in the division.
Such form and media attention has led to inevitable comparisons with footballing legeಌnd Messi, who made his competitive debut for Barcelona at 17.
The Argentine went on﷽ to score over 600 goals for the club across 17 seasons, winning 34 trophies, while he came to be widely considered as one of the greatest footballers of all time.
But Yamal has been quick to reject the comparison between himself a♛nd his Argentinian predecessor, claiming that although he enjoys the comparisons, it is not possible to reach the standards he set.
“I like that they cไompared me to the greatest player in the history of football, but I want to be myself,” Yamal told Spanish TV station Antena 3.
“Reaching Messi’s level is impossible.”
Despite Yamal’s understandable suggestion that he will be unable to reach the same heights as Messi, the winger still showed his self-coᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚᩚ♊ᩚᩚᩚ𒀱ᩚᩚᩚnfidence in the interview.
Somewhat bizarrely, he was pictured as a six-month old baby with Messi in a charity ca🍸lendar in 2007, with photos having since gone viral.
Speaking about the experience, the teenager joked that he was able to pick up some of his 🀅footbal🅺ling ability through Messi.
“He passed along some of his powers to me. I s♋till have a lot t🌜o give,” said Yamal.
Despite being just 17 years old, Yamal has already𓃲 playꦫed 55 times for Barcelona and, having made such an impression on world football over summer, interest from other clubs is an inevitability.
Yamal’s contract with Barcelona runs until 2026, with a reported release clause of £1bn, while spor🌊ting director Deco is keen to renew it when he turns 18.
But the teenager has made clear 🦂that he has no desire to leave the Catalan giants, wanting to remain with them for the rest of his caree𒀰r.
“I don’t want those €120m [bids💞] b𒀰ecause then I would have to leave Barca,” said Yamal.
“I hope to never have to leav🔜e.🤡 I want to be a legend.”
