FC Barcelona Star Lamine Yamal Talks Messi Comparisons, Media Attacks

FC Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal discussed comparisons he receives to Lionel Messi and harsh media treatment during an interview with GQ.

Such comparisons began after Lamine debuted as a 15-year-old at the back-end of the La Liga-winning 2022/2023 season and then destroyed Tottenham Hotspur in a spell-binding late comeback cameo in the Joan Gamper Trophy match which opened the following campaign.

Corners of the Catalan press hailed the performance as the best in the Gamper since a young Messi took Juventus apart in 2005, though the Italian coach that then asked Frank Rijkaard about the Argentine’s availability on loan and was laughed out of town – Fabio Capello – has already said that Lamine will not be a “genius” like the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“In the media one day they put you as the new Messi and the next day they say you have to stop playing, so the best thing is to focus on your own thing and your work, and only think about what the coach tells you, who is the one who really wants to help you, and your teammates,” a wise Lamine explained to GQ.

“I just go out on the pitch to enjoy myself and do what I always do. If people put a responsibility on you, it’s because you’re doing it right. And if you keep doing it just as well, nothing will happen to you.”

Still, Lamine cannot deny that he is living a “dream” at the club of his life while still aged 16, and has already become an idol to many kids of a Culer persuasion worldwide.

Showing a maturity beyond his young years, Lamine knows how he wants to be viewed as he grows up.

“I think that, above all, I want to be a good person and be able to help people. The most important thing, apart from football, is to be a good person. When I’m 25, I would want to be a responsible person and know who I am,” he said.

With a trophyless club campaign now wrapped up, Lamine is set to head to the Euros with Spain in Germany and most probably the Paris 2024 Olympics shortly after.