The Lamine Yamal phenomenon continues to grow at a pace that surprises even the greatest legends of soccer. At just 18 years old, the Barcelona winger has not only established himself as one of the stars of the present but is beginning to be seen as the natural heir to a legend of the Catalan club: Lionel Messi.
And this is not just a debate among analysts and fans, but also among the Argentine's former teammates and former Barça players, such as Sergio Agüero.
"Kun" Agüero defends Yamal and compares him to Messi and Mbappé
According to the former Manchester City player, Lamine possesses unique qualities and the ability to find a way out of the toughest situations, and he emphasized that his current level already places him among the elite, even comparing him to the influence of Barcelona's historic goal-scorer:
"Many people compare him to others, but, from my experience, he is one of the best. It's normal to have good and bad games; I want everyone to go see him. His movements, passes, dribbling, and agility are extraordinary; only Leo Messi did that before,” Agüero said in statements to Stake (via GOAL).
With 23 goals and 18 assists in 44 games played this season, Lamine led Barça’s offense, and despite their Champions League elimination against Atlético Madrid, they currently lead LaLiga by nine points over Real Madrid, aiming for a second consecutive title.
"When I saw him make his debut, I was speechless; he has a rare talent,” Agüero admitted.
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The comparisons to Messi are no coincidence. The Argentine star himself had already recognized the youngster's talent, whom he also compared to Real Madrid star Kylian Mbappé:
"Today, for me, there's no comparison: Lamine is above many others. Maybe Mbappé is there now, but we know his style: very aggressive in one-on-one situations, he finishes well and is very good. But Lamine has something few others possess. I like his short passes and his decision-making; they're different. Stopping Lamine is very difficult,” added Kun.
Beyond the praise, what truly sets Yamal apart is his influence on the game. It’s not just about statistics or isolated plays, but a consistent ability to change the course of matches. His self-assurance, maturity, and personality have led him to take on responsibilities unusual for his age, becoming a central figure in Barcelona’s project.
His talent not only excites the fans but also garners consensus among experts and former players. Barcelona's next match will be against Celta de Vigo in LaLiga, scheduled for Wednesday, April 22, at Spotify Camp Nou.
