Lamine Yamal is already higher than Lionel Messi was at this age.
That is the view of Barcelona legend Ronald De Boer who believes that {the teenager} may go on to eclipse Messi’s heroics.
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Yamal is already the highest younger star in world soccer after an electrical begin to life on the Nou Camp.
A product of the La Masia academy, the 17-year-old has already made 100 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 22 objectives and offering 33 assists.
Having already helped his membership to the LaLiga title final time period and the Copa Del Rey, Yamal can be hoping to encourage Barcelona to a treble this time period following their thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Milan within the Champions League on Wednesday evening.
Taking part in towards one of many hardest sides in European soccer, Yamal broke two information and received himself on the scoresheet towards the Italian giants to as soon as once more show that he is able to shining on the most important stage.
In keeping with De Boer, there is no restrict to his skills and says that he is turned Barcelona again right into a must-watch group.
Talking on talkSPORT Breakfast, De Boer stated: “Tons has been stated earlier than however the principle matter is that he’s such a younger boy acting at that age and he’s already received 100 video games beneath his belt.
“Even on the Euros he was among the finest – possibly the star of the Spanish group together with Nico Williams – and to be so very important for the Spanish group and likewise Barcelona like he was towards Inter.
“Every thing got here from the appropriate facet – he was towards Federico DiMarco who is a good, skilled participant and he will need to have thought ‘what the hell is going on right here’.
“We love watching soccer once more. There was a time when Messi, Iniesta, Xavi and all of these guys have been enjoying if you have been nearly afraid of lacking Barcelona once they have been enjoying. You have been scared to go to the bathroom as a result of possibly one thing occurs, one thing stunning and now you may have that once more.
“There have been durations with Barcelona the place you thought ‘possibly I’ll skip this one’ however not now.
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“All the kids in midfield with Pedri and Yamal at that age, it’s unbelievable.
“They’ve received an unbelievable quantity of younger gamers coming via and it’s a sign for lots of different golf equipment to not be afraid to make use of the younger, particularly with prime golf equipment like Ajax.
“There was a time when somebody received injured that you just’d go overseas however now the cash’s not there like with Barcelona and also you assume ‘okay we’ll do it with our children’ and naturally reminiscences come again with Messi.”
The similarities between Yamal and Messi are clear for all to see with Messi additionally a left-footed ahead who graduated from the La Masia academy.
The Argentine made his debut in October 2004 on the age of 17 and immediately grew to become a star – scoring 672 objectives in 778 video games for Barcelona.
Whereas Yamal has simply reached 100 matches for the Catalan giants, De Boer believes that the Spanish winger is already forward of Messi when it comes to what he is achieved at simply 17 years of age.
Stats at 17…
Cristiano Ronaldo
Appearances: 19
Targets: 5
Assists: 4
Lionel Messi
Appearances: 9
Targets: 1
Assists: 0
Lamine Yamal
Appearances: 100
Targets: 22
Assists: 33
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He stated: “I received a message from Henk ten Cate who was the assistant coach at Barcelona beneath Frank Rijkaard when Messi made his debut towards Espanyol and he stated that Yamal is additional than Messi at this age.
“Messi began actually when he was 21 or one thing so at this age, he’s higher than Messi when he was 16, 17 or 18 so that claims one thing.
“For me, the one distinction is the consistency. Messi stayed on for 10, 12, 13 years at an unbelievable stage – can Yamal do this? Can he hold the starvation? Can he keep match? Can he hold each ft on the bottom?
“Individuals are already saying as a result of he dyed his hair – I don’t know him as an individual however let him do what he needs.
“He looks like a really humble man however he’s not afraid to take the ball. If he loses it he’s not afraid to get the ball and take a look at once more however he’s mature in that sense.
“If you happen to lose the ball each time then the coach will assume that it’s time to vary, however he’s an actual slot in nearly each recreation so on that stage at this age he’s additional than Messi however in the long term Messi continues to be primary.”
Because it stands Barcelona are 4 factors clear on the prime of LaLiga with 5 matches remaining, which means that the prospect of retaining their title could be very a lot a actuality.
Ought to they be capable of see off Inter on the San Siro, Yamal can be firmly on monitor to safe a historic treble – not dangerous for a 17-year-old together with his whole profession forward of him.
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