Simply three seasons of normal soccer with Barcelona have been sufficient for Lamine Yamal to ascertain himself as one of many brightest stars on the planet at simply 18 years previous. His speedy rise continues to impress followers and former gamers alike — together with one Barcelona icon who lately likened the younger winger to Lionel Messi.
“What a participant — did you see final weekend when he got here on? His first motion, unbelievable. What a distinction, eh?” stated Ronald De Boer in a current interview with talkSPORT Breakfast, referring to Yamal’s efficiency in his minutes in opposition to Actual Sociedad in La Liga.
“This man’s unbelievable. Week in, week out, unbelievable,” added the previous Dutch midfielder, who performed for Barcelona between 1998 and 2000. “Being probably the greatest gamers within the Euros, and many others. It’s unbelievable. So yeah, the place does this finish? I don’t know.”
De Boer was then requested whether or not it made sense to check Lamine to Barcelona legends like Johan Cruyff or Lionel Messi. “They need to do as a result of his numbers are unbelievable,” he replied with out hesitation. “Messi in all probability didn’t even do, didn’t rating at this age, perhaps a aim, and what he’s already exhibiting and giving — assists, targets, and being vital.”
Former Barcelona participant Ronald De Boer.
Yamal’s speedy rise
No matter private preferences or future expectations, it’s simple that Lamine Yamal has risen to stardom even sooner than Lionel Messi, who additionally started enjoying at a really younger age.
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Yamal turned 18 this summer time and is already Barcelona’s prime star, carrying the enduring No. 10 jersey for the primary time this season. He’s additionally a key participant for the Spanish nationwide crew, with whom he received the Euro 2024 title. On prime of that, he completed second within the Ballon d’Or voting, simply behind Ousmane Dembele.
The Yamal-Messi comparability
Yamal’s exceptional achievements even surpass what Messi had achieved on the similar age. By the point he turned 18, Lamine had already performed 105 matches, scored 24 targets, and received 4 titles with Barcelona. With Spain, he had recorded 21 appearances and 6 targets.
Messi, in distinction, was simply getting began. Earlier than turning 18, he had scored just one aim in 9 official appearances for Barcelona and performed a secondary function within the 2004–05 La Liga title — his first as an expert. With Argentina, Leo hadn’t even made his debut by the point he reached maturity.
