Barcelona's Lamine Yamal says reaching Lionel Messi's level is 'impossible' - 'I want to be myself'
Updated 13/09/2024 at 11:21 GMT+1
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Lamine Yamal has enjoyed one of the finest individual breakout seasons in the history of world football, with the 17-year-old not only impressing in a Barcelona shirt but also helping fire Spain to Euro 2024 glory. Such form has seen comparisons drawn with Lionel Messi, who used to occupy the same right flank as the teenager, but Yamal said it's "impossible" to reach the Argentine's lofty heights.
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Lamine Yamal has downplayed comparisons made between him and Barcelona great Lionel Messi, saying it is "impossible" to reach the Argentine's level.
Yamal, 17, enjoyed a stunning breakout campaign in 2023-24 - becoming one of Barca's most important players while also helping to fire Spain to Euro 2024 victory.
Naturally, the winger has since had comparisons drawn between himself and his previous incumbent on the right wing at Camp Nou - footballing great Messi.
But Yamal has rejected that suggestion, labelling the standard set by Messi as "impossible" to match.
"I like that they compare me to the greatest player in the history of football, but I want to be myself," Yamal told Spanish TV station Antena 3. "Reaching Messi's level is impossible."
Yamal was pictured as a six-month-old baby alongside Messi as part of a charity calendar campaign in 2007, and when asked about the photo, the teenager said: "Man, he passed along some of his powers to me. I still have a lot to give."
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Yamal has already made 55 appearances for the Catalan giants despite being just 17-years-old, and his stellar breakout season in La Liga was swiftly followed by an impressive Euro 2024 campaign in which the forward truly announced his presence in the international scene.
The teenager became the youngest player to feature at a Euro competition, at just 16-years and 338 days old. The Barca talent soon found himself becoming one of Spain's most important players at the tournament in Germany.
Yamal then broke the record to become the youngest goalscorer at a Euro tournament, and did so in fine style as he netted a stunning equaliser in La Roja's semi-final against France - curling a long-range strike into the top corner to set his side en route to 2-1 victory.
Such performances have ignited talk of a €100+ transfer fee to draw the prodigy away from Catalonia, but he made clear his desire to stay with his boyhood club - expressing his desire to become a club "legend".
"I don't want those €120 million because then I would have to leave Barca," he said. "I hope I never have to leave. I want to be a legend."
Yamal is contracted with Barcelona until 2026 - which sporting director Deco has expressed a desire to renew when the winger turns 18 - while the release clause in his contract has been reported to be in the region of £1 billion.
The 17-year-old was drawn on memories of his club debut, which he achieved at the age of 15.
"I remember I arrived before anyone else and I had to eat breakfast," he recalled" "But I didn't go. I waited by the bicycles and didn't come out until everyone left."
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