Lamine Yamal spoke at a press conference on Tuesday, ahead of Barcelona’s UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg against Inter Milan. The Barça forward addressed comparisons being made between him and Lionel Messi.
Barcelona will face Inter Milan this Wednesday at the Montjuïc Stadium, in a crucial first leg of the Champions League semifinals. Chasing another European crown, the Blaugrana are aiming for a victory to move closer to the final.
To achieve that goal, the Catalans will be counting on Lamine Yamal. The young striker has been pivotal this season and delivered another standout performance this past weekend, helping Barça defeat Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.
His rise has sparked growing comparisons to club legend Lionel Messi, with some media outlets eager to anoint Yamal as the next face of Barcelona. However, the Spanish forward is not entertaining the comparison.
“I don’t compare myself to anyone, and certainly not to Messi. I’ll leave that to you. This comparison makes no sense—especially with Messi. I just want to enjoy myself and forge my own path. He’s the greatest in history, and I admire him. But I don’t compare myself to him. No, I haven’t spoken to him,” Yamal said during the press conference.