Lamine Yamal surpasses Messi: The man from the Marvel universe

Superpower

Julio Cesar Baldivieso made his Bolivian debut at just 12 years and 362 days; Freddy Adu signed a professional contract at 14 in the United States in 2001; but their precociousness pales in comparison to Lamine Yamal .

Lamine Yamal dominates at the age of 17. Photo: EFE

The Barca gem exploded into the top flight at just 16, and dominated at 17. Historically, only legends like Pele or Diego Maradona have done so. Not even Lionel Messi at the same age.

Yamal can only be described with the word 'superpower', as if he was bitten by a radioactive spider like Spiderman, or a character from a comic book.

Jorge Valdano, the 1986 World Cup winner with Argentina, once described Romario as a “cartoon” player with his movements in the penalty area. Yamal is more than that, a Marvel superhero.

You can be Spiderman as he glides to the right as if he's climbing a wall without touching the ground. You can be Captain America as he always makes the right decision for his teammates.

Yamal can be Thor when decisive power is needed to resolve a situation, like the goal against Espanyol that decided the La Liga title , or the goal that put Spain back on track after being behind to France in the EURO 2024 semi-finals.

Yamal's super goal against Espanyol. Photo: EFE

Both goals followed the same pattern: a cut inside, parallel to the box, then a shot like Messi in his prime – not Messi at 17.

Messi made his Barcelona debut at the age of 17, against Espanyol, but it was only a few years later that he truly exploded, reaching the 100-game mark as he approached his 21st birthday.

Lamine Yamal made his official debut at 15, against Betis, and reached 100 in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final against Inter. It was probably his best game for Barca .

Source: LaLiga/X

Given Messi's illustrious career, comparisons may be disrespectful. But they are inevitable, especially as both came through La Masia.

Inter's Simone Inzaghi once commented: "Every 50 years a player like Yamal appears."

Compare with Messi

A comparison of the first 100 games reveals some differences. Messi has scored nearly twice as many goals (41 to 22), while Yamal has twice as many assists (33 to 15). The number of starts is almost the same (76 for Messi; 77 for Yamal).

One can make a difference without scoring many goals, but to achieve status and big titles, it is necessary. Yamal understands that well.

Yamal scored in 3 of the 4 Clasicos. Photo: EFE

In the middle of the season, he was disappointed with his lack of goals, but he was the author of important goals. He scored in 3 of the 4 El Clasicos this season.

The comparisons will continue, but first the question must be asked: will Yamal be able to maintain his peak, or will the ball become as heavy as the stone of Sisyphus – the king in Greek mythology?

Football is full of examples. If the “new Mozart of the round ball” can do it, the next question is: how far can Yamal go, what can he improve and in what position?

“What you see in Yamal now, at 17, we saw when he was 15. Lamine played against 20-year-olds in the Youth League and was superior,” said Oscar Lopez, his last coach at Juvenil A.

Lopez was not surprised by Yamal's leadership, as shown in the Inter match.

Lamine Yamal celebrates his familiar "304" style in the Villarreal match. Photo: FCB

“When I watched that game, seeing how Yamal carried the team, I remembered the Mallorca game. We were 0-2 down in the first half, I told the players how to change. But Lamine didn't say anything, just quietly changed everything himself.”

Born in Esplugues de Llobregat, raised in the Rocafonda neighborhood of Mataro, a tough place, Barca made an exception for Yamal to live in La Masia. This was to avoid risks.

Lopez believes that those risks are now gone: “Yamal is very mature for his age, understands the value of things and knows what he wants. Although he is quiet, he always makes the right decisions, just like when he plays on the field.”

Although left-footed, Yamal is good with both feet, playing on the right to make dribbles into the middle, like the masterpiece in the derby with Espanyol, or most recently the goal against Villarreal: moves that show off his superpowers, half Spiderman, half Thor.

Source: FCB/X

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/lamine-yamal-vuot-messi-sieu-nang-luc-tu-vu-tru-marvel-2402623.html