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Just like Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho & Johan Cruyff! Barcelona icon explains why teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal is ‘writing his own story’

LaLiga

Celta Vigo

Barcelona

<p>At just 17 years of age, Yamal has <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-wonderkid-lamine-yamal-urged-andres-iniesta-school-playground-mindset-records-age-17/blt07247dcf65c31c59" target="_blank">already passed 60 senior appearances</a> at club level while earning 17 caps for Spain and <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/nico-williams-explains-why-crazy-success-hasnt-changed-lamine-yamal-athletic-club-star-big-brother-barcelona-wonderkid/bltfeea0eb036be8d17" target="_blank">becoming a European Championship winner</a>. He is being <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/diego-maradona-lionel-messi-barcelona-wonderkid-lamine-yamal-goat-comparison-proud-father/bltcda9a2900c8110ee" target="_blank">compared to all-time greats</a> of the past and present, with expectation being lumped onto young shoulders.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>Barcelona icon Deco, now the club's sporting director, can understand the excitement and has told <a href="https://www.sport.es/es/noticias/barca/deco-fuente-culpa-lamine-yamal-109570722 " target="_blank"><em>SPORT</em></a> of seeing <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-barcelona-wonderkid-lamine-yamal-cant-be-compared-lionel-messi-another-13-years/blt8ffbaeff9724aafa" target="_blank">Yamal likened to superstars that have gone before him</a> in Catalonia: "There will always be comparisons because football is passion and idolatry and we cannot ask the opposite of people, but everything in its time. Lamine is writing his own story. Leo, Johan, [Andres] Iniesta or Ronaldinho had their moment."</p>

WHAT DECO SAID

<p>Yamal’s <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-barcelona-wonderkid-lamine-yamal-blocked-debut-even-earlier-record-euro-2024-winner-senior-bow-15/blt56d0d905a3399acb" target="_blank">breakthrough came about</a> as Barca once again <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/lionel-messi-explains-why-lamine-yamal-comparisons-argentine-goat-barcelona-wonderkid/blt4880f886d29e8db6" target="_blank">looked to their La Masia academy system for inspiration</a> during a testing period on and off the field – with the youngster not enjoying the kind of adaptation that made it easy for Messi to flourish in La Liga and Champions League-winning squads.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Deco added on the teenager becoming a key building block for Barcelona in a new era: "He has everything to be a benchmark for this club and it is wonderful to have him at home, to be able to take care of him and appreciate him. He has not been lucky enough to grow up in a team that was winning like Messi, but he is being part of a renewal process."</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Yamal is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/never-seen-player-like-him-how-do-you-defend-lamine-yamal-sevilla-star-approach-barcelona-wonderkid/blt0cb83b4ee83e102e" target="_blank">nursing a knock at present</a>, which was picked up on international duty in the UEFA Nations League, but will have an important role to play in Barcelona’s long-term future – with the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/explained-why-barcelona-confident-new-lamine-yamal-contract-wonderkid-deal-1-billion-release-clause-2026/blt20c47da5f3f29969" target="_blank">expectation being that he will sign a lucrative new contract</a> when turning 18 in July 2025.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR YAMAL?

Just like Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho & Johan Cruyff! Barcelona icon explains why teenage wonderkid Lamine Yamal is ‘writing his own story’ | Goal.com

Lamine Yamal is “writing his own story”, says Deco, with the Barcelona wonderkid following in Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Johan Cruyff’s footsteps.