Lamine Yamal: The Future Star Expected to Outshine Messi
Lamine Yamal, the exciting young talent from Barcelona, has been tipped to surpass Lionel Messi and potentially break the Argentine’s record of eight Ballon d’Or wins. This bold prediction comes from former Barcelona midfielder Emmanuel Petit, who believes the 17-year-old wonderkid is poised to take on the iconic No. 10 shirt at Camp Nou following Ansu Fati’s recent loan move to Monaco.
Yamal has already made history by becoming the youngest player to feature at a European Championship, debuting at just 16 years and 338 days old. His impressive performances during Euro 2024, where he not only registered an assist but also scored the goal of the tournament in the semi-final against France, have solidified his reputation on the international stage. He finished the tournament with a joint-record for most assists, earning him the coveted Young Player of the Tournament award.
Petit, who joined Barcelona after a successful stint at Arsenal and boasts a World Cup title, expressed his admiration for Yamal in an interview with Escapist Magazine. “Every time he touches the ball, something happens. You’d think he was 28 and in his prime,” Petit said. “He has the potential to become even better than Messi.”
With Fati’s departure, Yamal is expected to embrace the No. 10 jersey, a number that holds special significance at Barcelona. Petit believes that this opportunity could further motivate Yamal in his pursuit of multiple Ballon d’Or awards. “He wants to be like Lionel Messi, and taking on the No. 10 is part of that ambition,” Petit added.
Yamal’s statistics speak volumes about his talent: during the past season, he scored 18 goals and provided 25 assists across all competitions, contributing significantly to Barcelona’s domestic double. His ability to dribble past defenders with ease and create chances has drawn comparisons to some of the best in the game.
