In Barcelona, Spain, Lamine Yamal is sparking attention with his play on the right flank for Barcelona, prompting inevitable comparisons to a young Lionel Messi during his early days at the club. Yamal, at just 17, is preparing to take on Inter Milan in the Champions League semifinal on Wednesday, a team that notoriously held Messi scoreless. Yet, Yamal is quick to dismiss such comparisons, insisting he isn’t striving to be a Messi replica.
“I don’t want to be compared to any player, much less Messi. He is the best in the world,” Yamal confidently stated during his first press conference for Barcelona. He emphasizes that Messi’s extraordinary scoring record against countless teams is unparalleled, but Yamal hopes to make his own mark by scoring against Inter.
With his distinct new blond hairstyle, Yamal stands out not just as a teenage sensation but as one of the leading young talents in global soccer. His current focus is squarely on aiding Barcelona’s pursuit of a treble, capturing the Copa del Rey being one step. The match against Inter marks his 100th appearance for the senior team, an impressive feat for someone not yet 18.
“I am proud to have played so many games at this age,” Yamal acknowledged, expressing how the initial nerves that accompanied being among the elite have since subsided. This upcoming Champions League semifinal represents his biggest match with Barcelona, rivaling his recent contribution to their Copa del Rey victory over Real Madrid.
In their match against Madrid, Yamal was instrumental with two decisive assists that propelled Barcelona to a 3-2 triumph in extra time. His confidence is evident, as he recalls telling a teammate that Madrid’s goals wouldn’t faze them because “they can’t hang with us this season.”
Wednesday’s encounter with Inter will test that confidence against one of Europe’s staunchest defenses, as Inter has maintained eight clean sheets in the Champions League. Barcelona, meanwhile, leads the tournament with 37 goals, a tally that Yamal has contributed to with both goals and assists.
“Everyone knows that Inter is a strong defensive team and dangerous on the counter,” Yamal noted. “We need to be effective with possession and play cohesively.”
The outcome of this two-legged tie will determine who faces either Paris Saint-Germain or Arsenal on May 31 in Munich.
Yamal’s rapid ascent traces back to last season, where he shattered records to become La Liga’s youngest scorer at 16. His remarkable rise extended into the summer when he earned the title of youngest scorer in the European Championship during a semi-final against France, celebrating his 17th birthday by ultimately winning against England.
He continues to make strides with Barcelona this season, amassing 14 goals and 24 assists, propelling the team toward another La Liga title. Just when it seemed he had claimed all possible records, he further etched his name into history as the youngest player to score in a clasico.
Yamal is handling his meteoric rise with composure, dismissing any notion that it’s all occurring too rapidly for someone so young. “I think soccer is not about age, it is about talent and mentality of each player,” he asserted. “Age is just a number.”