Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martínez has mentioned he’s impressed by Lamine Yamal however added that there is no such thing as a comparability between Barcelona‘s teenage sensation and Lionel Messi.
Many similarities have been drawn between Yamal and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, who each got here via Barça’s youth ranks.
“For me, Leo [Messi] is incomparable, as a result of Leo is and can all the time be the most effective participant of all time,” Martínez mentioned of the Inter Miami captain.
“I am not going to make that comparability. All I can say is that Lamine is a vital participant, we have all seen him, everyone knows him.”
Messi scored 672 objectives in 778 video games for Barcelona earlier than leaving the membership in 2021, and he helped them win 10 LaLiga titles and the Champions League on 4 events.
Yamal, 17, has scored 21 objectives and arrange 27 extra in 99 appearances for Barça since being promoted to the primary crew in the summertime of 2023.
At 16, Yamal grew to become the youngest scorer in LaLiga historical past and the youngest participant ever to characteristic at a European Championship with Spain.
He received the Younger Participant of the Event at Euro 2024 after serving to Spain declare the title.
“At his younger age, he is doing an amazing job and has received vital titles along with his nationwide crew,” Martínez mentioned of Yamal forward of his facet’s Champions League semifinal on Wednesday.
“He deserves respect, he has an amazing future forward of him.”
Yamal, who lifted the Copa del Rey after his crew’s 3-2 extra-time win over Actual Madrid on Saturday, performed down the comparisons himself in a information convention on Tuesday.
“I do not examine myself with him,” Yamal instructed reporters when requested about Messi. “I do not need to examine me with anybody, and even much less with Messi. That is one thing I depart to you.
“In the long run, I solely attempt to be higher than yesterday. I love Messi rather a lot, so I do not need to examine myself with the most effective participant in soccer’s historical past. I nonetheless have not spoken with him in particular person.”
Barça are 4 factors away from Actual Madrid on the prime of La Liga with 5 video games remaining.
