Lionel Messi tips young star to follow in his footsteps

The Inter Miami captain was asked which member of a talented new generation most reminds him of himself.

Lionel Messi’s busy offseason schedule took him to Germany this week to visit Adidas' headquarters in Herzogenaurach. Despite the huge number of media requests thrust upon the Inter Miami captain it’s pretty rare to hear him speak openly about soccer.

However in Germany he appeared at a press conference and gave some interesting answers. Nigerian artist Goke Oyewo asked Messi which player from the new generation reminded him of his younger self.

“There’s a very good generation of young footballers who have many years ahead of them,” Messi answered. “If I have to choose someone, because of the age and because of the future that he has, I’ve heard that many have chosen Lamine Yamal and without doubt [it’s him] for me, too."

“I agree it depends on him and many things because that’s how soccer is, but he’s the present and without a doubt has a huge future.”

How does Lamine Yamal compare to Lionel Messi?

Messi is not alone in that opinion and the 17-year-old Yamal has already been recognised as one of the world’s best players. Following a stellar season with Barcelona and Spain, notably helping the national team to a European Championship triumph, Yamal finished eighth in the Ballon d’Or rankings.

This season the La Masia graduate has picked up where he left off, providing five goals and ten assists in 15 league appearances for La Blaugrana. Already a regular with the national team, at 17 Yamal has already played 17 times for Spain. By contrast, Messi was 18 when he got his first international call-up for Argentina.

At this young age Lamine Yamal is ahead of where Lionel Messi was but this thrilling start cannot necessarily be extrapolated into a stellar, 20-year career. Yamal is significantly taller than Messi, for example, making him better suited to start in the professional game at a younger age.

For all his talent, comparisons between Yamal and Messi mean little at this early stage. But just as a young Lionel Messi had to deal with the pressure of being the ‘New Maradona’, Lamine Yamal may have to shoulder the burden of the ‘New Messi’ tag.