Soccer has been blessed with the recent emergence of Lamine Yamal on the international scene. The Barcelona graduate took the world by storm during the last season and was an integral part of Spain’s triumphant run in the UEFA European Championship 2024. Having recently turned 17, Yamal is now gearing up for the 2024/25 club season with Barcelona as one of the main players in the squad.
The right-winger’s brilliance at such a young and tender age inevitably draws comparisons with the great Lionel Messi. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner also made the big step into senior professional soccer as a teenager with Barcelona. The Blaugrana fans have not stopped themselves from imagining Yamal following the footsteps of Messi. However, the much-awaited matchup between the two does not seem to be happening in the near future.
The prospect of 2025 Finalissima in the air
It is an unlikely scenario to see Messi and Yamal face each other with their clubs in the foreseeable future as both FC Barcelona and Inter Miami have announced their pre-season tours with the two clubs not scheduled to face each other. Soccer faithful were anticipating the great man and his heir to battle it out with their national teams in the 2025 Finalissima.
Spain and Argentina are due to compete next year as the winners of their respective continental championships this summer. Unfortunately, the tentative date of June 2025 looks unlikely at the moment considering the packed club schedule in the next 12 months. The latest edition of the FIFA Club World Cup will take place in June 2025, leading to the imminent delay of Finalissima.
Lamine Yamal stats at 16 as compared to Lionel Messi
It is a fair argument to consider that Lamine Yamal is the most talented and renowned teenager since Lionel Messi. At the age of 16, the Spaniard’s achievements are an extraordinary feat making him seal a place with the best in the world already. He managed to score eight goals and grab 18 assists in his breakthrough season.
Lionel Messi, on the other hand, was still associated with the Barcelona youth team at the age of 16. The fact just goes to further highlight the genius of Lamine Yamal. Having now turned 17, Yamal will have a bigger role with his club, and the parallels with Lionel Messi will continue to arise. Nonetheless, Barcelona supporters expect Yamal to follow his own path and become the best version of himself.