Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has urged the football world to exercise patience when assessing Spanish-Moroccan wonderkid Lamine Yamal, insisting it is far too early to compare him to Barcelona legend Lionel Messi.
Yamal, who has African roots through his Moroccan father and Equatorial Guinean mother, has emerged as one of the brightest prospects in European football following a breakthrough season at FC Barcelona.
Speaking about the teenager’s rapid rise and increasing comparisons to Messi, Guardiola called for calm and long-term perspective.
“We have to let Lamine Yamal follow his path. When he has played for 15 years, then we can talk about whether he is better than Messi or not,” he said.
Guardiola, who famously coached Messi during the Argentine’s peak years at Barcelona, acknowledged the magnitude of such comparisons.
“The fact that he is compared to Messi is, in itself, something gigantic. It’s like comparing a painter to Van Gogh.”
Yamal has already made a significant impression at the highest level despite his young age.
The 18-year-old forward has delivered decisive goals and assists in La Liga and on the international stage for Spain.
Guardiola’s remarks serve as both praise and a cautionary reminder. “Let him follow his own path,” he said. “Let’s not burden him with the weight of legend ahead of time.”
As the football world continues to marvel at Yamal’s ability, Guardiola’s reflections underline the need to protect and nurture generational talent rather than hastily crown it.
For now, Yamal remains one of the most exciting prospects to emerge from La Masia since Messi himself, but—as Guardiola suggests—true greatness can only be judged over time.
