Lamine Yamal at 17: Ronaldo's personality and Messi's super skills

(Dan Tri) - At the age of 17, Lamine Yamal shone brightly to help Barcelona win the domestic treble and he possesses the qualities of both legends Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

There are moments that become iconic, glimpses of a genius in the making. There’s the image of the long-haired boy with his hair down, celebrating on Ronaldinho’s back. There’s the teenager with dyed hair in a Barcelona shirt, running past the Inter Milan defence.

Almost exactly 20 years have passed since Lionel Messi's first goal for Barcelona and Lamine Yamal's spectacular strike in last month's Champions League semi-final, which was also his 100th appearance for the Catalan club.

Now Yamal did the same thing again. A "cut inside" dribble from the right wing into the middle and a powerful left-footed finish, a move that is gradually becoming a trademark, helped Barcelona beat city rivals Espanyol to win La Liga on the night of May 16.

At 17, this is Yamal's second La Liga title, younger than Messi when he set the record for the youngest player to score in this tournament in 2005, from a pass from Ronaldinho. In addition, Yamal also owns a King's Cup, a Spanish Super Cup and a European Championship with the Spanish team.

"I don't want to compare myself to the greatest player in football history," Yamal said last month. But it's hard not to wonder: Can Barca's young talent follow in Messi's footsteps?

Since making his Barcelona debut at just 15 years and 290 days, Yamal's development has been faster than that of Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo.

Not yet 18 years old, Yamal has played 104 matches at club level, scoring 24 goals. At the same age, Messi only scored one goal in 9 matches for Barca, while Ronaldo had 5 goals in 19 matches for Sporting Lisbon.

Yamal also scored four goals in 19 appearances for Spain, while neither Messi nor Ronaldo had played internationally at the same age.

Messi started playing for Barca at the age of 16, but it was almost 21 when he reached the 100-game mark, when he scored 41 goals. That was just the start of an extraordinary journey that included 672 goals, 8 Ballon d'Ors, 1 World Cup, 2 Copa America, 4 Champions League and countless domestic titles.

"What Yamal is doing is not normal," said former Barcelona midfielder Mark van Bommel. "Everyone talks about him. But to achieve what Messi has achieved is not easy, even for a 17-year-old."

A deeper look at the 100-game milestone. Yamal reached 100 games for Barca in a dramatic 3-3 draw with Inter in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, before he turned 18.

This goal helped Yamal set a new record: the youngest player in history to score in a Champions League semi-final. Before that, he set similar records in the round of 16 and quarter-finals of Europe's most prestigious club tournament.

At 17 years and 292 days, Yamal also became the second youngest player in history to start in a Champions League semi-final, behind only Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), who played at 17 years and 227 days.

Not only that, with 5 goals in the Champions League before the age of 18, Yamal is far ahead of other outstanding players such as Ansu Fati (Barcelona) and Ethan Nwaneri (Arsenal), each with only 2 goals.

Just entering his second season as a professional, Yamal has already won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup with Barcelona, ​​and the European Championship with Spain. This season, he has scored 15 goals and provided 20 assists in 49 games, helping Barca to a historic treble. A perfect start for the future superstar.

It took Messi nearly five years to reach his first 100 games with Barcelona, ​​significantly slower than Yamal. But by that time, Messi had already scored 41 goals and won five major trophies. Interestingly, a few months before this milestone, Messi held a baby named Lamine Yamal in his arms during a Barca charity photoshoot in 2007.

Meanwhile, Ronaldo started his career at Sporting Lisbon at the age of 17, scoring 5 goals before the age of 18. He really exploded when he joined Man Utd under the guidance of Sir Alex Ferguson, winning the FA Cup and scoring his 20th career goal in his 100th game. Ronaldo then became a global icon with records at Man Utd and Real Madrid.

Messi was a scrawny kid needing growth hormone treatment when he arrived in Spain from Argentina at the age of 13. He was so quiet that his La Masia teammates thought he was mute because he didn't speak for the first month.

"Messi is always reserved and respectful of everyone around him," said Spanish football expert Guillem Balague. "He sets the standards for new players. When Neymar arrived at Barca, he received a clear message from Messi: There are certain rules here."

Meanwhile, Yamal grew up in the Granollers and Mataro areas, about 20 miles from the Nou Camp. He often celebrated by creating the number "304", the last three digits of the Rocafonda area code where he was born.

Interesting detail as mentioned above: In 2007, Messi, then 20 years old, held little Yamal during a charity photo shoot between Barca and UNICEF. 7 years later, Yamal officially entered the La Masia academy. At the age of 12, he was compared to Messi by Marca, Spain's leading sports newspaper.

Barca even broke the rules by allowing Yamal to stay at La Masia, which was usually reserved for players from outside Catalonia. Just over three years later, he made his first-team debut against Real Betis.

"Why did they bring Yamal to La Masia?", said coach Pau Moral, who coached Yamal at La Masia. "Because he did not have an easy childhood, but Barca guided him in the right direction."

Unlike Messi, Yamal has always liked to express himself, was cheerful and humorous since childhood. "His parents divorced early, his mother became a solid support, and his father was like a friend. This helped Yamal become more confident, just like Ronaldo always believed that he could fly the highest," Balague analyzed.

In his first press conference before the match against Inter Milan, Yamal declared: "I left all my fears behind in the park where I live." And when criticised for over-celebrating after the Copa del Rey win, Yamal confidently replied: "As long as I keep winning, they can't say anything."

“That's really Ronaldo's way of thinking, absolute confidence that he's the best,” Balague said.

Basketball legend Kobe Bryant once said that Ronaldinho introduced him to a player who would become the greatest in history. "What do you mean? You're the best player," Kobe Bryant said in surprise. "No," Ronaldinho said. "This kid will be the greatest player." At that time, Messi was only 17 years old.

Messi joined Barca's star-studded squad, which included Ronaldinho, Deco, Eto'o and La Masia legends like Puyol, Iniesta, and Xavi. The following season, Barca won La Liga and the Champions League.

"We won the Champions League and La Liga with Ronaldinho in his prime," said Van Bommel. "He was at a level where he could do everything himself. We just defended and let him inspire the attack, knowing we would win every game."

Of course, it is difficult to compare players from different eras. Yamal emerged in a completely different Barcelona context, when the financial situation forced the team to turn back and put their faith in the youth system that had made the club famous.

Yamal's first start only came after Ousmane Dembélé left for Paris Saint-Germain and Raphinha was suspended for the second round of last season, but now he is the team's true star.

"In terms of player and talent, I think we're looking at the best player in the world right now," Moral said. "Nobody can do what he's doing. He's 17, that's not a problem. When Yamal sets his mind to it, you always have the feeling he's going to create something special."

This season, Yamal has scored five goals in the Champions League, with more dribbles than Messi did as a teenager. "Yamal's impact is extraordinary," Balague said. "Barca players see him as the solution whenever they have problems."

That is a question only time can answer.

"At this point, it can be said that Yamal is ahead of Messi," said expert Guillem Balague. "But to stay at the top for 15 years, to be present and make an impression in every final - that requires stability, luck, and especially a strong spirit when things are no longer favorable."

"At the moment, everything is going very well for him. And that's what makes Yamal so special, he makes people eagerly wait for every Barcelona match, makes the audience jump out of their seats, scream every time he touches the ball or creates a magical moment."

Coach Pau Moral recalled the youth finals Yamal had won, including the comeback against Real Madrid. “Now he is doing the same thing, but on the biggest stage,” he said.

"Who could have imagined that a 16, 17-year-old boy would not only start in La Liga but also be a mainstay of Barcelona… and then score in the semi-finals of the Champions League or Euro in the same season?"

"He's still just a kid. It's unbelievable. Honestly, I don't know what Lamine's limits are. But I'm sure we're looking at one of the greatest players of the future."

"Messi is the best in history, for me there is no doubt. But if Yamal is supported properly - from the environment, family, to the coaching staff - if he keeps his spirit and makes the right decisions at the right time, I dare not say he will surpass Messi. But clearly, he is on that path."

Van Bommel believes Barcelona's 2006 Champions League triumph was the "beginning of the Messi era", a period built around La Masia, with Messi at its helm. Now, it feels like Lamine Yamal could be the new leader, leading the next generation of talent into a new era at Camp Nou.

That is also what coach Pau Moral and many people who have been associated with La Masia have always waited to see.

"We thought it would never happen again. But look 10 years later, we have a similar generation," Moral smiled when remembering young players like Yamal, Gavi, Alejandro Balde, Pau Cubarsi... and believes there are many other names waiting to break through.

"When they touch the ball, you can feel something very special, like a reflex of a coach. With Lamine, if a 12-year-old can drive you crazy in training, you just say: 'Wow!'"

"Barcelona are on the right track, they are investing back in La Masia, in players, in young, talented coaches. Now it is normal to see 16, 17, 18 year old players playing. And that is truly extraordinary."

"When Xavi was at his peak, he was 26 or 27. Now these guys are 17 or 18. Imagine where they will be in 10 years' time."

Yamal is the brightest star of this season, a true talent at the age of 17. And Barcelona hopes that, if one day the Camp Nou stage closes with him, the legacy Yamal leaves behind will be enough to be on par with Messi.

Content: Ngoc Trung

Design: Huy Pham

May 27, 2025 - 06:54

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/the-thao/lamine-yamal-o-tuoi-17-ca-tinh-ronaldo-va-ky-nang-sieu-dang-cua-messi-20250520155027159.htm