Lamine Yamal Reflects on Inheriting Lionel Messi's Legacy at Barcelona: 'I Still Have A Lot to Give'

Rising as a young player to be watched on the football scene, Lamine Yamal has the weight of replacing Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona. With great hopes of him being a major player for the team as they try to transcend the shadow of their greatest legacy, his generational ability has attracted notice.

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Lamine Yamal speaks on being asked to pull a Lionel Messi at FC Barcelona 

Lamine Yamal, Barcelona's emerging wonder, recently spoke about the many parallels to Lionel Messi, suggesting that the Argentine great could have given the torch to him metaphorically when he left the Catalan team. Yamal has had a big influence on the international scene as well as on his club since his 2023 debut.

Yamal made history in October 2023 as the youngest player to score in La Liga in a game against Granada that drew 2-2. He also significantly contributed four assists and a stunning left-footed shot to tie the score against France in the semi-final, therefore helping Spain to victory at Euro 2024.

Lamine Yamal underlined in an interview with Spanish TV station Antena 3 the importance of developing his own distinct character among constant Messi comparisons. Although he respected Messi highly, he said he thought it unreasonable to expect him to reach his degree of success. Lamien Yamals said: 

"I like that they compare me to the greatest player in the history of football, but I want to be myself. Reaching Messi's level is impossible," Yamal said.

“Man, he passed along some of his powers to me. I still have a lot to give.”

“I never want to leave Barça. I want to become a legend of this club”.

Lamine Yamal first saw Lionel Messi when he was barely six months old. Following his triumph, he took part in a charity calendar photoshoot with Messi in 2007. 

Having scored once and given four assists in his first four La Liga games, Yamal has had an outstanding start to the 2024–25 season with Barcelona.

During a game against Real Valladolid on August 31, one of his best moments was a perfectly timed lofted assist to Robert Lewansky. This specific performance made notable parallels to Messi's approach. Barcelona controlled the game 7-0, Yamal helping two assists in the game.