Yamal does not want to be like Messi; he wants to follow his own path.

04/12/2025 12:38:00 soccer

At just 18, Lamine Yamal is smart enough to realize what he needs to do to reduce stress on himself and grow successfully ahead. The easiest approach is to prevent comparisons with elite stars, especially Lionel Messi.

Many have been dubbed the new Messi or new Ronaldo, but none have matched the impact of these two legends. Numerous players have proudly carried these titles only to fade away, leaving many regrets behind. Recently, in an interview with the US channel CBS, Yamal spoke about three players: David Beckham, Pulisic, and Lionel Messi.

On live television in front of millions of viewers, Yamal openly admitted that among these players, only Messi is the "greatest player in history," but he has no intention of following the path of Argentina’s captain..

Yamal’s opinion is very clear: "I think I respect Messi for everything he has done for football. If we ever meet, there will definitely be mutual respect. To me, Messi is the greatest player ever. I believe Messi knows I am very good too and respects him. That mutual respect means we both understand that I don’t want to become Messi. I want to walk my own path. I don’t want to play like him, wear the number 10 shirt because of him, or anything like that."

Yamal đang là cầu thủ đáng xem nhất của bóng đá thế giới - Ảnh: @TouchlineX — Yamal is currently the most exciting player in world football – Photo: @TouchlineX

It’s like Yamal enjoys the freedom of driving alone without rushing to get a license. You might say Yamal is arrogant, proud, and a bit whimsical. But which 18-year-old doesn’t like to attract attention, including being an inspiration to youth like Yamal? In just three years, his life has dramatically changed from an ordinary youth player at La Masia to one of the most famous figures on the planet. Titles, individual awards, salary, women... all have come to Yamal. Yet, none of this seems to bother him. In fact, for this teenager, star pressure means nothing.

He sees his fame as normal because Yamal understands he is proving himself through real talent, not just through advanced AI data or TikTok and YouTube clips. Still, Yamal is aware that his life is far from ordinary:

"It’s hard to behave like a normal 18-year-old boy. Even if I wanted to, I never could. At my age, others finish school and go home, but I go to training with paparazzi waiting outside my house and kids wearing my name on the streets. I want to eat at a restaurant like a regular person, but I can’t because people surround me. This is normal since I’m famous. So, I try to do simpler things like visiting my mom and little brother, or playing video games."

Yamal hiểu mình sẽ bị — Yamal knows he will be "watched" more by paparazzi – Photo: @TouchlineX

But like many 18-year-olds, Yamal still gets nagged by his parents, which sometimes annoys him greatly. Notably, Yamal lives with his mother while his father is dating another woman. Despite having a loving but strict mother, Yamal can still be very messy, needing reminders to shower, having a room like a pigsty, and lacking clear personal hygiene awareness.

At 18 or in the early twenties, it’s hard to discipline a boy, especially when Yamal is now famous. He probably feels restricted and uncomfortable. As Yamal admits, his mother mostly cares about him cleaning his room and folding blankets rather than how many goals he scores...

The talented Barca winger has clearly stated that he is determined to "bring joy to everyone and showcase his football skills." Because beyond early records soon to be broken, Yamal’s goal is to continue delivering thrilling moments to anyone watching him play, just like in Rocafonda. Nothing pleases him more than seeing fans happy watching his football. Yamal always wants his football to bring happiness to people.

When he debuted at Camp Nou, Yamal was only 15. Although he did not feel pressure, he was nervous before stepping onto the pitch as hundreds of thousands of eyes followed every move of this young boy: "A heat wave ran through my stomach making me restless. It was a mix of adrenaline, nervousness, and excitement."

Yamal muốn có thành công riêng của mình - Ảnh: @TouchlineX — Yamal wants to achieve his own success – Photo: @TouchlineX

For Yamal, life in Rocafonda was even tougher than playing for Barca. It’s a poor neighborhood of second-class citizens – working people who don’t know what tomorrow or the future holds. They just try to get through each meal, each day. He grew up there and found joy and hope for change only through football. That’s why, even now living a luxurious life, Yamal never forgets his roots and even celebrates goals by drawing the postal code of Mataro in the air. He knows where he comes from and is proud of it. That’s why people love Yamal, who plays like a superstar but behaves like an ordinary person.

Although still young, Yamal has shined on football’s biggest stages and scored many spectacular goals. Moreover, Yamal’s career with Spain’s national team is just beginning, but he is already a European champion and dreams of winning the 2026 World Cup. He has no regrets choosing to represent Spain instead of Morocco. “I never hesitated about that decision. Who wouldn’t want to play for Spain and compete at the EURO? Thank God I chose right and am aiming for success at the World Cup.”

To those who think he is rising too fast and being favored, Yamal frankly says "Who doesn’t want to succeed in life?"This straightforward answer reflects Yamal’s personality well. No beating around the bush. Yamal always prefers to go straight to the point. Now everyone is waiting to see where Yamal’s career journey will lead next.

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