Mark van Bommel, a former Barcelona player and Netherlands international, has compared Lamine Yamal's talent to that of Lionel Messi at the same age. According to Van Bommel, Yamal is better than Messi was at 17 years old ¹.
Key Points
- *Comparing Yamal and Messi*: Van Bommel notes that when Messi joined Barcelona's first team, he didn't play as many games as Yamal does now. "If you compare the two at that age, Yamal is better now," he said.
- *Consistency and Longevity*: However, Van Bommel emphasizes that maintaining a high level of performance over two decades, like Messi has done, is exceptional. "If Yamal wants to catch up with Messi in terms of goals, he will have to score another 500 or so," he added.
- *Yamal's Potential*: Despite his impressive start, Van Bommel doesn't consider Yamal the best player in the world yet. "Is Yamal the best in the world right now? No, he's not, but he's well on his way," he stated ¹ ².
Yamal's Response to Comparisons
Lamine Yamal has expressed admiration for Messi, considering him the greatest player of all time. However, he doesn't compare himself to Messi, focusing instead on improving his own skills. "I admire him obviously, as the best player in history, but I don't compare myself to him," Yamal said ³.
Conclusion
The comparison between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi highlights the potential and talent of the young Barcelona star. While Van Bommel acknowledges Yamal's impressive abilities, he also emphasizes the importance of consistency and longevity in achieving greatness, as demonstrated by Messi's illustrious career.
