Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal continues drawing comparisons to club legend Lionel Messi, but not everyone believes he can match the Argentine’s legendary career. Former French international Louis Saha has expressed doubts about the 18-year-old’s potential to reach Messi’s level.
Yamal began his journey at Barcelona’s La Masia academy at age seven, following the same path as his idol Messi. He made his first-team debut at just 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days, becoming the youngest player in club history to appear in LaLiga.
The winger has already collected significant silverware, winning two LaLiga titles, one Spanish Super Cup, and one Copa del Rey. His international recognition includes being named the best young player at Euro 2024.
Combining his performances for Barcelona and the Spanish national team, Yamal has produced impressive numbers with 37 goals and 48 assists despite his young age.
Former Manchester United and France striker Louis Saha questions whether Yamal possesses the necessary dedication to reach legendary status. “I see Lamine Yamal’s quality as a player, but I don’t see an obsession where you really focus on your football that Cristiano Ronaldo also has,” Saha stated in an interview.
The former Premier League star compared Yamal’s situation to Brazilian forward Neymar Jr., suggesting both players face distractions that could limit their potential. “Some distractions are already around Yamal, that’s not good. I think you’ll find him dragged away from the game like Neymar,” Saha added.
Despite Saha’s reservations, both Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have publicly praised the young Barcelona star. During an Adidas event in Germany, Messi described Yamal as “the present and without a doubt has a huge future.”
Ronaldo echoed similar sentiments, stating he sees “great talent” in Yamal and predicting he “will be one of the best in this generation, for sure.”
Yamal and Barcelona return to action against Alavés on Saturday, looking to rebound from their recent 3-0 loss to Chelsea.
