Lamine Yamal spreads fear across Europe

What Lamine Yamal shows is reminiscent of Lionel Messi.

On a night in April at Montjuïc, with Barcelona trailing 0-2 to Inter Milan and the specter of defeat looming, a player wearing the number 19 shirt performed a miracle. In a seemingly hopeless situation, Lamine Yamal, only 17 years old, received the ball on the right wing, dribbled past two defenders, and unleashed a left-footed strike into the far corner of the goal.

That goal was not only a work of art but also a spark that lit up belief. After 90 minutes, Barcelona ended the match with a 3-3 draw in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final.

born genius

"He is not just a promising young talent anymore. Yamal is a real star, present and future of world football," coach Hansi Flick said after the match, with eyes that could not hide his admiration for his student.

When Leo Messi was dominating the Camp Nou pitch, it was a familiar sight to fans of the visiting team's defenders parking the "bus" and praying. Now, just three years after Messi left Barcelona, ​​that fear is slowly returning, but the person causing it is a teenager who has just turned 17.

The most amazing thing about Yamal is not his skillful dribbling or his beautiful goals. It is his remarkable maturity in tactical thinking and his ability to carry the team at the right time - qualities only found in world-class superstars.

"Watching him on the pitch, you wouldn't think he was a 17-year-old," said Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder and Yamal's Spain teammate. "Yamal has the style of a player who has played dozens of finals. His composure and determination remind me of Messi in 2009."

Yamal is the inspiration behind Barcelona's style of play.

Veteran ESPN journalist Graham Hunter even boldly commented: "From a professional perspective, Yamal at the age of 17 was even more terrifying than Messi at the same age. Leo at that time was a pure technical genius, but not as tactically complete as Yamal is now."

The statistics back up these claims. After his first 40 appearances for Barcelona’s first team, Yamal has contributed 15 goals and 20 assists – figures that are far superior to Messi (9 goals, 15 assists) at the same career milestone.

From La Masia to world star

Born and raised in Esplugues de Llobregat, a small town near Barcelona, ​​Yamal was discovered at the age of 5. At the La Masia training center, this "prodigy" always played against opponents much older than him and continuously broke the "youngest player" record.

However, unlike many other prodigies, Yamal did not sink under the pressure of expectation. On the contrary, Barcelona's "left wing" shined even brighter in the most important moments.

"I have never seen a young player who reads the game like Yamal," said former striker Thierry Henry. "He not only solves problems on the pitch but also anticipates them before they happen."

Before Inter Milan, Yamal continuously stirred up the opponent's defense. He scored a very beautiful goal.

This season, with 15 goals and 15 assists in all competitions, Yamal has emerged as a strong candidate for the Ballon d'Or, despite being only 17 years old. If that happens, the Spanish talent will break the record of "youngest player to win the Ballon d'Or" of "fat" Ronaldo (21 years old in 1997).

Erling Haaland, the main rival in the title race, had to admit: "Yamal deserves all the praise. Watching him play, I forgot that we are seven years apart." Then, when witnessing Yamal dominate the pitch against the Inter Milan defense in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, the Manchester City striker exclaimed: "Wow, this guy is amazing."

Yamal is now a symbol of Barcelona's rebuilding under Hansi Flick. With an attacking, modern football philosophy but still retaining Barca's DNA, the Catalan team is gradually regaining its position as a football empire.

While it's too early to compare Yamal to Messi - who has won seven Ballons d'Or and is widely considered the greatest player of all time - no one can deny the teenager's limitless potential.

"It's up to him to reach the heights he wants to reach," Barcelona president Joan Laporta said. "But with what he's shown, nothing is impossible for this boy."

From a shy kid at La Masia to a star that Europe has looked up to, Lamine Yamal’s journey is a testament to the power of natural talent combined with hard work and burning desire. The world of football is witnessing the birth of a new legend, and if things continue as they are, Yamal’s name will soon be etched among the brightest stars in the footballing sky.

Barca's goals in the match against Inter In the early morning of May 1, Barca drew 3-3 with Inter in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Lluis Companys stadium.

Source: https://znews.vn/lamine-yamal-seeding-rac-noi-so-khap-chau-au-post1550272.html