Lamine Yamal Names His Football Idol, and It’s Not Lionel Messi
- Barcelona teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has snubbed Lionel Messi when naming his biggest 'idol' in football
- Many young football stars, especially those emerging from Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, view Messi as their ultimate idol
- However, Yamal thinks otherwise , choosing another Bracelona legend as his role model instead of the Argentine
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Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has surprised fans by naming Neymar Junior not Lionel Messi, as his biggest footballing idol.
The 17-year-old, who has become a key player for the Catalan giants, recently spoke to CNN about his inspirations, his future with the club, and Barcelona’s chances in the La Liga title race.
Source: Getty Images
Yamal, who has become the face of Barcelona's future, reaffirmed his commitment to the club.
"Barça is the club of my life. I hope to renew my contract with them and to be with them as long as possible," he said.
He emphasised his desire to continue in Spain, adding:
"I want to play for Barça, and yes, I will renew my contract. I will."
Yamal names his football idol
When asked about his footballing idol, Yamal reminisced about Neymar, whom he first saw playing for Santos at the age of five before watching him live at Camp Nou.
"It was incredible to see him," he said via Tribuna. Yes, it’s true that Messi was also incredible, but Neymar was something totally different," he said. Calling Neymar "a star and a football legend," Yamal cited the Brazilian's unique style as the reason for his admiration.
Yamal also touched on Barcelona’s current La Liga campaign and their rivalry with Real Madrid. Confident in his team’s abilities, he stated:
“La Liga will be won against the teams we’ve previously lost to. It’s about focus. We’ve shown in important moments that we are the best and will continue to do so."
Neymar's stats at Barcelona
Neymar, who played for Barcelona from 2013 to 2017, scored 68 goals in 123 La Liga appearances and won several trophies, including two La Liga titles and the 2015 Champions League.
His influence clearly left a lasting impression on Yamal, who now carries the torch for Barcelona’s future.
Yamal's performance this season
Despite missing two months of the season through injury, Yamal has still delivered 39 goal contributions in 49 appearances.
And at just 17, he doesn’t turn 18 until July, he's already firmly in the conversation with the likes of Mohamed Salah, Ousmane Dembélé, and teammate Raphinha as one of this season’s top performers.
UEFA stirs reactions with cryptic Lamine Yamal post
In an earlier report, YEN.com.gh highlighted how UEFA stirred excitement online with a cryptic post about Lamine Yamal.
The Champions League organisers’ puzzling message on X sparked a wave of fan reactions, with many speculating on the 17-year-old's rising influence in European football.
On April 30, on a night that celebrated his 100th outing for the Catalan side, the teenage sensation lit up the stage with a performance that drew comparisons to club legend, Lionel Messi.
Source: YEN.com.gh
