“There is no comparison” - Deco delivers verdict on Lamine Yamal being compared to Lionel Messi after meteoric rise at Barcelona
Barcelona sporting director Deco has weighed in on teenage sensation Lamine Yamal being compared to Lionel Messi following his recent rise to fame. The 17-year-old has quickly become one of the most significant players in the Blaugrana attack.
Lamine Yamal joined Barcelona's famed youth academy La Masia in 2014 at seven years of age. The teenager's exceptional ball control, passing skills, and immaculate dribbling ability have often led him to be compared to Blaugrana legends like Lionel Messi and Neymar Jr.
The Spaniard made his senior team debut in April 2023 in a 4-0 win over Real Betis in LaLiga. In 67 outings for La Blaugrana across competitions, Yamal has recorded 13 goals and 17 assists. The La Masia graduate also has 17 caps for Spain (three goals and nine assists) and was key to La Roja's Euro 2024 triumph. He scored an important goal in Spain's 2-1 victory over France in the Euro semi-finals alongside having four assists in the tournament.
In an interview with Mundo Deportivo, Barca sporting director Deco recently shared his take on Lamine Yamal often being compared to the legendary Lionel Messi. He said (via GOAL):
"I don't think comparing him to Leo is a problem for him, but rather a source of pride for him. I don't know if it's good or bad, it depends on him. He's growing and I don't see it as a problem."
Deco added:
"In the end, everyone has their own story, there is no comparison. (...) Lamine is unique, it's his life, he has his life story and the only thing he has is the coincidence of being in the same club as Leo and of being precocious in his appearance although in different situations."
Much like Yamal, Lionel Messi also rose through the youth ranks of La Masia before making his senior team debut in a LaLiga game in 2004. The Argentine icon went on to become the greatest player in Barcelona's history, recording 672 goals and 303 assists in 778 appearances between 2004 and 2021.
"Reaching Messi's level is impossible" - When Lamine Yamal made feelings clear about his comparisons with Lionel Messi
In an interview with Spanish TV station Antena 3 earlier this year, Lamine Yamal shared his thoughts on being compared to Lionel Messi.
"I like that they compare me to the greatest player in the history of football, but I want to be myself. Reaching Messi's level is impossible," Yamal said.
After his breakthrough 2023-24 season, Lamine Yamal won the 2024 Kopa Trophy at the Ballon d'Or ceremony last month. He also stood eighth in the Ballon d'Or rankings. France Football later revealed that Lionel Messi had voted for Yamal in the first position for the Kopa Trophy.
It remains to be seen whether Lamine Yamal can replicate Messi's success at Barcelona. He is part of a rebuilding team with mostly academy players, while Messi had the support of stalwarts in his early days at the club, such as Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o, Xavi, and Andres Iniesta.