Featured Image Credit: Ion Alcoba Beitia via Getty Images
Topics: Lamine Yamal, Barcelona, Spain, Football, Lionel Messi
James Taylor
Topics: Lamine Yamal, Barcelona, Spain, Football, Lionel Messi
Lamine Yamal is already 'making history like Lionel Messi' according to one Barcelona legend.
The 17-year-old sensation is set to start for his country against France in the UEFA Nations League, with both sides battling for a place in the final against Portugal in Munich.
It was last year that Yamal caught the world's attention as he played a starring role at 2024's UEFA European Championships, where Spain defeated England in the final to lift the trophy.
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His stunning goal in the semi-finals against France was named as the Goal of the Tournament, and he was crowned best young player of the tournament.
Yamal carried his outstanding form into this season with his club Barcelona, scoring 18 goals and registering 25 assists as they won a domestic treble. His remarkable form for Barcelona at such a young age has inevitably led to comparisons Lionel Messi, who won eight Ballon d'Ors, four Champions Leagues and 10 La Liga's during his time in Spain.
Although it is still too early to directly Yamal with one of the greatest players of all time, his performances have grabbed the attention of the football world.
Barcelona's sporting director Deco, spoke to BBC Match of the Day about Lamine Yamal where he made one direct comparison between Yamal and Messi.
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And it is all to do with what he is making fans do when think about going to games
"Lamine is Lamine. Leo is Leo. Leo was the best player in the history of this club and for me, the best player in history," Deco said.
"So it's not easy to compare these kinds of things but Lamine is in terms of quality, he, in the same way, can make history like Leo.
"Lamine is a different kind of player that everyone becomes crazy when they see him playing football, these kind of players that make you pay to go to the stadium to see him.
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"He's special. He's different and we knew that since he started with us two years ago. But you never know how the player will react at this age at the highest level and he proved that he was unbelievable in the Euros, when he won with his national team. But I think this season he gave a little bit more with us because he showed how good he is in the top games, how he's calm, how he's matured. So it's different.
"It's not normal for a 17-year-old, but we are lucky to have Lamine with us. So this was unbelievable."
Yamal will be eager to prove Deco's point when his Spain side face France.
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In an intriguing sub-plot, he will be up against Paris Saint-Germain's Ousmane Dembele, who is the strong favourite for the Ballon d'or after PSG's Champions League triumph.
Yamal will be keen to show why he should not be ignored.