I just want to carve my own path: Lamine Yamal addressed ongoing comparisons with Lionel Messi at Barcelona

Rajarshi has been part of Khel Now since 2022, and he covers world football.

Published at :July 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM

Modified at :July 10, 2025 at 10:14 PM

I just want to carve my own path: Lamine Yamal addressed ongoing comparisons with Lionel Messi at Barcelona

The 17-year-old will wear No.10 next season.

Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal has reiterated that he has no intention of imitating Lionel Messi’s career at the Spanish club. He instead wants to build his own legacy.

The 17-year-old will turn 18 in a few days and has already amazed the football world with a plethora of talent ever since he burst onto the scene for the Catalan team.

His talent has also been compared to a former La Masia product, Lionel Messi, who has had a similar impact to Yamal at a very young age for FC Barcelona. He has been frequently likened to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

However, Yamal’s achievement at a very young age eclipses the Argentine’s accomplishments at the same age. He has already won two LaLiga titles, the European Championship, and has Golden Boy honours to his name, and is among the favourites to win the Ballon d’Or this year.

Spain Lamine Yamal — Lamine Yamal has already achieved much in his early career with Barcelona and the Spain national team (Photo via Getty Images)

He is on the path to putting his own name in Barcelona’s annals. Speaking at an Adidas press event in Shanghai, he addressed the ongoing comparisons to Messi:

“I’ve always tried to forge my own path. Of course, Messi is the greatest player in history for me, without a doubt. He’s left-footed, and so am I. He played for Barcelona, and I play for Barcelona. He played as a right winger, and so do I. We definitely have a lot in common, and that’s okay. I just want to carve my own path.”

Yamal added: “He wrote his legendary story, and I hope to have a successful career like his. But more importantly, I want to play football my way, to write my own story, and to make people remember the name Lamine Yamal.”

✨🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal: "Messi? For me, he is the best player in history. Everything he did on and off the field impressed me, and he gives me a sense of awe in everything. "Everywhere in the world he goes, he leaves an impact. I liked everything about his game. And it’s been… pic.twitter.com/pnHLEn2Bhw
— All About Argentina 🛎🇦🇷 (@AlbicelesteTalk) July 9, 2025

Yamal will be another top star who will inherit the legendary number 10 next season as he prepares to display his talent on the pitch once again. Like Messi, his influence on the pitch will further shape the outcome of the games.

Will Lamine Yamal wear No.10 for Barcelona next season?

Following the exit of Ansu Fati on loan, Yamal will now don No.10 at the club.

Where is Lionel Messi playing currently?

Messi is playing for MLS club Inter Miami.

What is common between Yamal and Messi?

Both came from La Masia. Both are left-footed and played for Barcelona as right-wingers.

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Rajarshi Shukla

After earning a bachelor's degree in mass media, Rajarshi began his career as a sports writer in 2019, driven by his passion for sports journalism. He has been working in the field for over six years. A devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Barcelona, Rajarshi has been involved in sports since childhood. Before turning his focus to journalism, he even represented his college at the state level. Along with covering football, he enjoys playing the game, watching movies, and experimenting with new recipes in his spare time, as cooking is one of his favorite hobbies.