'They dribble past everyone' - Marcelo Bielsa compares Ballon d’Or nominee Lamine Yamal to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi
Published 30/08/2025 at 23:55 GMT+1
Marcelo Bielsa has compared Ballon d’Or nominee Lamine Yamal to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi. The former Leeds United, Marseille and Lazio boss believes that they both have the ability to change a game by running at the opposition with the ball at their feet. Yamal enjoyed an excellent 2024/2025 campaign with Barcelona, winning La Liga and impressing in the UEFA Champions League.
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Former Argentina manager Marcelo Bielsa has compared Ballon d’Or nominee Lamine Yamal to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.
The 18-year-old sensation has been named on the shortlist for football’s most coveted individual honour after inspiring the Spanish side to the Liga title and the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League last term.
Messi knows a thing or two about the Ballon d’Or, having won the prize eight times during his illustrious career, more than any other player.
Bielsa, who is currently the manager of Uruguay, believes that Yamal and Messi are both difference makers who can change a game when they have the ball at their feet.
"If you have a player like Barca's winger [Yamal], it doesn't matter if there are two or 10 players in front of him," he said during a press conference.
"He solves the offensive game the same way, regardless of any analysis.
"He improves his team because he eliminates opponents on his own without anyone's help.
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"Lamine Yamal does the same as Messi and every other difference maker.
"[Kylian] Mbappe or Cristiano Ronaldo need playmakers, but both Messi and Barca's winger don’t need help. They dribble past everyone."
Yamal was sensational during the 2024/2025 campaign, scoring 18 goals and producing 25 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions.
The Spaniard has also won Euro 2024 and the 2024 Kopa Trophy since making his debut for Barca in 2023.
He has already enjoyed an impressive start to the current campaign, scoring once and registering three assists in two La Liga matches.
However, he still has a long way to go to match Messi.
Messi left La Liga with a record of 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 Barcelona appearances across all competitions.
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Bielsa managed Argentina between 1998 and 2004. The 70-year-old has had a remarkable managerial career since then, taking charge of great clubs like Marseille, Lazio and Athletic Bilbao.
He also enjoyed a successful spell as manager of the Chilean national team between 2007 and 2011.
However, he is best known in England for his exciting brand of football with Leeds United.
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During his time at Elland Road, he helped the club back into the Premier League for the first time in 16 years.
Yamal’s closest rival to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or appears to be Paris Saint-Germain forward Ousmane Dembele.
The Frenchman played alongside Messi while at Barcelona, but he has taken his game to new heights over the last 12 months after moving from the wing to a new role as a false-nine.
The winner of the 2025 Ballon is set to be revealed on September 22, with the likes of Harry Kane, Vitinha, and Serie A winner Scott McTominay also in the running.
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