Spanish international of Moroccan heritage, Lamine Yamal, has spoken about the comparisons with the Argentine legend, Lionel Messi and has assured that he does not think about whether he has ‘more or less than another’ player, since for him ‘the key is to think about oneself’.
The 17-year-old has been a revelation for club and country since he broke into the scene.
“I don’t think about whether I have more or less than someone else. I think the key is to think about yourself, to try to do the best for the team and for yourself. I don’t look too much at stats, I play to enjoy myself, for people to enjoy themselves and to win, obviously. I don’t look at whether someone else has more or less than me,” he explained in an interview with UEFA.
Yamal confessed that his role at the last European Championship has changed him as a footballer: “Before, I was like a child, but since I won the European Championship, everything is different. I don’t look like a kid anymore, I’m more confident. When you win a title, all the players take a step forward, and that’s noticeable.”
An evolution that he has transferred to his game at Barca. “Now I have more confidence and I do more things than I did before. Before, I played more easily, I did what I felt like doing at any given moment. Now I try to enjoy more and be inspired by myself, and do what I feel like doing at any given moment,” he said.
Furthermore, Lamine admitted that fame has changed his life, as now he can’t go out in the street with his family without being recognised, and said that this situation “is difficult”, although it also makes him “proud”.
