If it was Lamine Yamal's potential that started the Lionel Messi comparisons, a photo truly let them loose. The picture, widely circulated on social media, is just five years old. A slight Yamal, wearing a grey Nike hoodie and Tottenham sweats, poses with a smirking Messi. It is not the image of a future star, or, more importantly, a player who knows he's standing with one.
But it has since become a source of propaganda, evidence of 'the first link-up' or a visual representation of 'when greatness meets greatness'. Still, the picture, although overblown, does provide valuable context to one of modern football's greatest issues. Barcelona, and the sport at large, is constantly in search of its 'next Messi.'
Enter the latest candidate: Yamal. The 16-year-old certainly ticks some boxes. Here is a left-footed right-winger, revered for his dribbling ability and finesse. His low centre of gravity and silky first touch make him difficult to knock off the ball, while his eye for slick passes in the final third make him a creative threat. Any of this sound familiar?
After that, though, the similarities end. Yamal, although he has enjoyed an immensely promising start to his Barca and Spain career, could do with shedding the Messi association. But while his predecessors were burdened by it — and have spent most of their careers trying and failing to hit those lofty heights — Yamal is too good in his own way.
This is not a player better than Messi. Nor is he one who could be markedly worse. Rather, Yamal is an immense talent who needs to be allowed to forge his own path — one that has him on track to be truly world-class.