What Separates Lamine Yamal From Lionel Messi: Lamine Yamal has emerged as one of the most exciting young prospects in world football over the last few years, so much so that some people are comparing him to a young Lionel Messi. The youngster’s coach has revealed the difference between the two.
The Spanish winger is yet another product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. After years in the junior teams, Lamine made his senior team debut at the age of 16 in 2023. In the 2023-24 season, he made 38 appearances and scored five goals. While his finishing was lacking, he made up for it with his extravagant skills and rapid speed.
But Yamal’s stock only grew when he was selected for and played every match for the Spanish national team in the 2024 UEFA Euros. Spain was the best team in the tournament, winning all their games in the competition on their way to triumph. In this fantastic team, the young winger was a standout player. He assisted four and scored one goal in seven games.
Check Out: What Separates Lamine Yamal From Lionel Messi?
His assists were clean and magnificent, showcasing his ability to find a teammate at the end of a gutsy pass. But the goal he scored in the competition, against France in the semi-final, might have been the best goal in the tournament. From about 25 meters out, he curled the ball into the top left corner.
Following a full season with Barcelona and a standout Euros tournament at the age of 17, Lamine Yamal is naturally the most sought-after and hyped young footballer in the world.
With such success and skill at this age, people are comparing him to another La Masia product, a player who would end up becoming the greatest player in Barcelona history and arguably the greatest footballer of all time, Lionel Messi.
The Argentine GOAT made his Barca senior team debut at the age of 17, a year older than Yamal. What happened next is the stuff of legends. Over the next 17 seasons, Messi scored 672 and assisted 269 goals for the club, winning countless La Liga, Copa Del Rey, and Champions League titles.
What Separates Lamine Yamal From Lionel Messi
With so much talent at such a young age, it is natural that people are comparing Lamine to Lionel. But La Masia coach and former FC Barcelona player Oscar Lopez has revealed what is the one skill that separates the two, admitting that the Spanish wonderkid will likely learn this skill with experience, it being the ability to run a team.
“One of Messi’s great strengths, one of the many strengths that he had, was that he knew how to run the team. He knew how to make the team play, from a midfield position, or from that position on the right wing, going inside. He knew when it was necessary for him to lead the team, when to accelerate the play, and when he had to say, ‘Hey, the team is not playing well today, but I am, so I am going to decide this game, and I am going to break it open.’ That is what I think Lamine still needs a little bit. But, over time, he is going to get it,” said Lopez.
Gearing up for the 2024-25 season, Yamal and Barcelona did not have the best start to the season, losing the Supercopa de Espana final to arch-rivals Real Madrid 4-1.
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