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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="match-schedule">{"type":"match-schedule","data":{"channelId":"92686d1e-5985-40e1-80f3-6f5a54f55b39","competitionId":"34pl8szyvrbwcmfkuocjm3r6t"}}</script><ul><li>Youngster made senior breakthrough at 15</li><li>Has rewritten the history books since then</li><li>Being likened to Argentine all-time great</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

‘We’ll know when he’s 30’ – Why Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal can’t be compared to Lionel Messi for another 13 years

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<p>With both players stepping out of the famed La Masia academy system, inevitable talk of a teenage star in the present <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/diego-maradona-lionel-messi-barcelona-wonderkid-lamine-yamal-goat-comparison-proud-father/bltcda9a2900c8110ee" target="_blank">treading the same path as an eight-time Ballon d’Or winner</a> has been generated. Such a discussion would feel far-fetched for most, but <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lamine-yamal-vs-vinicius-junior-barcelona-wonderkid-lionel-messi-quality-better-real-madrid-rival/blt12baa58691d86c22" target="_blank">Yamal has shown himself to be the hottest of prospects</a>.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>He has been rewriting the history books since <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-barcelona-wonderkid-lamine-yamal-blocked-debut-even-earlier-record-euro-2024-winner-senior-bow-15/blt56d0d905a3399acb" target="_blank">making a senior breakthrough at the age of 15</a>, and is already a proven performer with La Liga title and European Championship honours to his name. More prestigious prizes are expected to come his way, but it is far too early to put him in the Messi talent bracket.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>That is an opinion shared by ex-Barca player and director Cruyff, with the Dutchman telling <a href="https://www.marca.com/radio/2024/10/08/67059ce1ca4741783e8b45cf.html " target="_blank"><em>Radio MARCA</em></a> on Yamal: “He is a different player, with a different talent, with a lot of personality for his age. From the very first day without any fear of ‘give me the ball, I’m going to make my move’. And the truth is that if he is not injured, he is obviously a player who is going to mark an era, but to say that he is going to be a Messi… We’ll know when he is 30 years old.”</p>

WHAT CRUYFF SAID

<p>Yamal has made no secret of the fact that he wants to become a legend in his own right, but has told <a href="https://www.antena3.com/programas/el-hormiguero/invitados/lamine-yamal_2024091266e287a0b3741e0001e150de.html " target="_blank"><em>El Hormiguero</em></a> of the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lamine-yamal-reacts-impossible-lionel-messi-challenge-barcelona-wonderkid-120m-transfer-admission-bid-legend/blt990a89dcc3584b73#cs9944bf8270ef12a2" target="_blank">Messi debate that continues to rage</a> around him: “I like being compared to the best player in football history, but I want to be myself. Reaching Messi’s level is impossible.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Lamine is not yet the finished article, with there <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-wonderkid-lamine-yamal-quality-lacked-most-teenager-not-finished-article-record-breaking-achievements/bltb7bf1295b1ee38f9" target="_blank">still areas of his game to work on</a>, but impressive progress has been made to this point and there is every reason to believe that he will emulate Messi by landing Golden Boy and Ballon d’Or awards at some stage.</p>

WHAT NEXT?

‘We’ll know when he’s 30’ – Why Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal can’t be compared to Lionel Messi for another 13 years | Goal.com

Former Barcelona director Jordi Cruyff says comparisons between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi cannot be made for another 13 years.