Lamine Yamal: Carving His Own Path in Football

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has made it clear that he does not aspire to be the next Lionel Messi. The talented 18-year-old is determined to carve out his own path in the sport, despite frequent comparisons to the legendary player.

Yamal has been likened to Messi for several reasons: both players emerged from Barcelona’s esteemed academy, operate on the right flank of the attack, and share similar playing styles. However, Yamal, who recently finished second in the Ballon d’Or standings—an award Messi has claimed eight times—expresses a desire to distance himself from such labels.

“I anticipated this question,” Yamal remarked during an interview on CBS’s 60 Minutes when asked about the Messi comparisons. “I have immense respect for him, for what he has accomplished in football. If we ever meet on the pitch, there will be mutual respect because I consider him the greatest in history.

“However, it is important to clarify that I do not wish to be Messi, and he is aware of my intentions. I want to follow my own journey, and I have no desire to emulate his style or wear the No. 10 jersey, which he made iconic.”

Interestingly, Yamal has coincidentally inherited Barcelona’s No. 10 shirt this summer. He acknowledges that while certain aspects of his game may have been influenced by Messi, he takes particular pride in his passing abilities. This was evident during a recent LaLiga match, where he provided a crucial assist for Dani Olmo in Barcelona’s 3-1 victory over Alavés, propelling the team to the top of the league.

“Interestingly, as a young child, my focus was not on dribbling,” Yamal explained. “I scored often and showcased my speed, but I always maintained a keen vision for the game. Watching Messi, I noticed the uniqueness of his passing—he crafted passes that were akin to goals, often using the outside of his foot. I admired this skill and aimed to incorporate it into my own game. Players like Luka Modric also inspired me, as their passing creativity seemed more intriguing than mere dribbling.”

Although Yamal and Messi have yet to share a pitch, this may change next summer at the World Cup, where both Spain and Argentina have qualified. As defending champions, Argentina is among the tournament’s favorites, while Spain, buoyed by their recent European Championship victory, is also a strong contender, led in part by the promising Yamal.

When asked about expectations for the World Cup, Yamal responded, “Very high. It has been a while since Spain was considered a serious contender. The country is excited, and so am I. The timing couldn’t be better. I feel good and important.”

When directly asked if Spain would win the World Cup, Yamal confidently replied, “Yes.”