Xavi says Lamine Yamal shares Lionel Messi’s mindset

Former Barcelona coach Xavi says Lamine Yamal reminds him of Lionel Messi because of his mentality, confidence, and love of the ball, even if he believes direct comparisons do the teenager no favors.

In a feature for The Athletic, Xavi stressed that the resemblance is more about personality and self-belief than playing style, and he warned against loading too much pressure onto such a young player.

Yamal’s rise at Barcelona has been unusually fast. He joined La Masia at seven, made his senior debut against Real Betis in April 2023 at 15 years and 291 days, and quickly became part of Xavi’s first-team plans on the right wing. During the 2023-24 season, he moved from promising academy talent to regular starter, helping Barcelona finish second in La Liga while contributing key assists against Villarreal and Real Sociedad.

Xavi’s point is simple: the teenager already plays with rare confidence, but his career should be allowed to grow on its own terms. That is why the Barcelona legend says Yamal may share Messi’s mindset, while still needing his own path and identity.