Lamine Yamal on Ballon d'Or Ambitions, Messi Comparisons, and Playing for Joy
In an extensive interview, Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal discusses his ambitions for the Ballon d'Or, comparisons to Lionel Messi, and his passion for football.
Lamine Yamal has already won the Euro and the World Cup before turning 20, but for him, the ceiling is still far away. In an extensive interview with The Guardian, the Barcelona and Spain star spoke about his ambitions, the race for the Ballon d'Or, constant comparisons to Lionel Messi, and his approach to the game.
The Ambition for the Ballon d'Or
"To be completely honest, it's not just this year that I've been at the level to win the Ballon d'Or, but for longer now," Yamal said. "Everyone knows it; they know I'm a player who makes a difference. I think people tell themselves: 'Lamine is 19, he'll win it eventually, so let's give it to someone else.' I just need to win, win, and win, and the moment will come when there is no longer any debate."
Yamal also addressed his playing style and opponents trying to "figure him out." He noted that modern football has become mechanical, but players like him and Pedri bring a special spark and unpredictability to the pitch.
Living Up to Expectations and Family
Yamal revealed that Neymar was one of the players who inspired him: "There is a typical Neymar move, when he stops, feints, and goes the other way. I watched a ton of videos of him. I try to play with opponents and make sure they don't know what I'm going to do."
One of the most iconic images after Spain's World Cup victory was the embrace between Yamal and Messi. Yamal shared: "I told him thank you for everything he gave to football. I don't do things to look good in a photo; it came from the inside." He also explained why he asked his father for years not to publish the famous photo of Messi holding him as a baby: "The comparisons were too easy, and that's all people would talk about. I wanted to be Lamine, I didn't want to be Messi."
Despite his young age, Yamal is already accustomed to immense expectations.
"Sometimes I enjoy the pressure. I enjoy stepping onto the pitch when a lot is expected of me," he said. "But there is another kind of pressure that has nothing to do with what people say or football, but with life. I don't feel pressure in football."
According to him, his true responsibility is toward his family, recalling his mother's struggles and his father collecting scrap metal so he could eat. "That is fear. In football, there is no fear."
Playing for Joy
Yamal emphasized that for him, football is first and foremost about enjoyment. "I don't play for money; I play because I love it. Players who are obsessed with goals or assists don't enjoy it. I play for fun: to dribble, to play one or two-touch, to make a teammate who hasn't scored find the net. For the happiness of the fans, to hear the 'olá'. I play for that."
Concluding with his thoughts on the big stages, Yamal stated: "At the World Cup, when the ball came to me, people would stand up one after another. That feeling makes you feel stronger than everyone. You feel like Superman, like Spider-Man."
Having already won the Euro and the World Cup at such a young age, Yamal has no intention of stopping. "Why shouldn't we be the best national team in history? Why shouldn't we be the best Barcelona? And if there is anyone in the world who doesn't rest on success and doesn't live by normal standards - that's me."
