Very few players have had the impact in football by Yamal’s age. He will turn 18 in July.
He appears to be the closest thing we have seen to Barcelona and Argentina great Messi, now at Inter Miami and arguably the greatest footballer in history.
The pair both came through the Barca academy, La Masia, and both play on the right wing.
«I don’t compare myself to him, because I don’t compare myself to anyone — and much less with Messi,» Yamal told reporters in the build-up to the game, while also describing the Argentine as «the best player in history».
But Messi was just very, very promising at the age of 17, rather than already regarded as one of the world’s best.
Yamal added: «I don’t think the comparison makes sense, with Messi even less — I’m going to enjoy myself, and be myself.»
But he has an unusual bit of history with Messi, who he was photographed with as a baby.
A photo emerged, external from a charity calendar photoshoot taken at Barcelona’s Nou Camp in 2007.
In it, a 20-year-old Messi held baby Yamal and helped him have a bath. Yes really.
The shoot came about after Unicef did a raffle in the town of Mataro where Lamine’s family lived.
«We walked down to the city centre and you could tell there is a superstar in this town now in Lamine Yamal,» said ex-England defender Rio Ferdinand on TNT Sports.
«There was a void when Messi left, this kid is doing stuff at 17 we have never seen before. The comfort and ease he plays with is remarkable and he is as at ease off the field.»
