After Lionel Messi’s departure, Barcelona began searching for his replacement. Finding a true replacement for Messi seemed impossible, but if they could find someone with similar influence, that would be a win. In this search, several names, including Ansu Fati, emerged, but none have succeeded in the same way. It was in this pursuit of young talent that Lamine Yamal made his debut last year. Now, many see Messi’s shadow in Yamal.
Since his debut, Yamal has been proving himself at Barcelona. His dazzling performances have gradually led to comparisons with Messi, mainly due to his playing style and impact on the match. Yamal’s moves down the wing and attacking style often remind fans of Messi.
In some statistical categories, Yamal has even surpassed Messi. At just 17 years old, Yamal is now not only a key player for Barcelona but also gaining recognition as one of the best players in world football.
Along with these accolades, Yamal has earned praise from Messi himself. Despite still being in his teens, Messi has referred to Yamal as the present and future of football. Recently, during an Adidas event in Germany, Messi spoke about Yamal. When gospel guitarist Guke Weu asked Messi who he sees his shadow in, Messi responded:
“A wonderful generation of young footballers is emerging, with many years ahead of them. If I had to choose someone based on their age and future, I’ve heard many people choose Lamine Yamal. There’s no doubt I agree with that choice. But, it depends on him and many other factors. Football is like that. But he is the present and definitely has an amazing future ahead of him.”
Not only did Messi praise Yamal, but he also expressed his love for Barcelona: “I want to see Barcelona win La Liga, Copa del Rey, and even the Champions League again. In the years when that’s not possible, I hope they still fight.”
