Hansi Flick doesn't like Lamine Yamal being compared to Lionel Messi & Diego Maradona

The teenager has often been compared to Messi.

Lamine Yamal is only 17 years old, yet his incredible exploits have drawn comparisons to football greats Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. But following Barcelona’s spirited 1-0 victory over Alaves, head coach Hansi Flick added his voice to the discussion and made a crucial point about these parallels.

In a pivotal Matchday 22 of the 2024–25 LaLiga season between Barcelona and Alaves, Yamal once again stole the show. The traits of a future world-class player were evident in his individual genius, even though he did not appear on the scoresheet.

In the fourth minute, Yamal scooped up the ball deep in his own half and started a captivating solo move, drawing attention from five players before threading a pass to Raphinha, generating a clear scoring opportunity. The exact moment went viral early in the game.

After the match, Flick was questioned about whether he thinks Yamal is more like Maradona or Messi. But the German coach quickly dismissed the analogies.

 “I’m not a fan of that, you know? Lamine is special, he’s a genius. I think I said it in the last press conference. What he did today in some situations was unbelievable, and I’m very happy that he’s playing for Barca,” Flick said in his post-match press conference.

The La Masia product has enjoyed early success as a right winger, hence, it’s little wonder that many people consider Yamal as a reflection of Messi. He has previously demonstrated his ability to influence the game on the big stage by playing a pivotal part in Spain’s 2024 UEFA Euro triumph.

Lamine Yamal on being compared to Messi

Yamal is not totally at ease with these comparisons, though. After earning the Golden Boy award, the Barcelona player talked about the ongoing similarities to Messi in an interview with MARCA:

“It’s an honor (to be compared to Messi), but I’m trying to write my own story. Messi is the best in history, and I’m still taking my first steps. These comparisons sometimes don’t help,” Yamal stated, making it clear that while the praise is flattering, he wants to carve his own legacy.

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