BARCELONA, SPAIN — Hansi Flick’s usually even-keeled demeanor was betrayed ever so slightly by a wry smile and a small chuckle.
Twelve minutes into speaking after Barcelona’s fourth Clasico victory of the season, a 4-3 win at the Montjuic that all but gave his team the La Liga title, the Barcelona boss was unable to fully contain his perspective.
As Daily Mail journalist Aadam Patel finished his question about what it’s like to coach Lamine Yamal, “a kid with so much to learn,” Flick was already keen on how to begin his answer.
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The German gave a courteous pause once Patel had finished, but he didn’t need it. “He’s not a kid,” Flick muttered finally. “He’s not a kid.” It was the most forthcoming he’d been all evening.
From there, Flick reverted back to his regular coach-speak. “He’s doing good, he has confidence in what he can do, and he’s very clever… For 17 years [old], it’s really high quality and this is what we want from him.”
Lamine Yamal has captivated the football universe. Turning 18 in mid-July, the kid star forward is about to capture his second La Liga title to go with a Copa del Rey and a Supercopa de Espana with Barcelona, plus a starring role in Spain’s triumph at Euro 2024. He has already logged over 100 appearances across all competitions for Barcelona, scoring 23 goals and assisting 33 more, plus four goals in 19 senior games for Spain.
None of this is a fluke. Sure, plenty of teen stars have come through the ranks of La Masia for Barcelona and impressed initially before eventually fading. Lamine Yamal’s own teammate Ansu Fati is a prime example, still just 22 years old but already considered a bust.
This is different — MUCH, much different. Watching Lamine Yamal effortlessly play, you cannot help but conjure one image. You say to yourself “surely not, don’t be ridiculous,” but the image will not fade. It will not concede the space it now occupies in your brain. It will not relent.
Lionel Messi.
“We’ve been here before countless times,” you say to yourself. How many players have the media declared is the “next Messi?” How many youngsters were “destined for stardom” or whatever headline gets you to click that day?
“It all ends the same; this is no different” you insist. But you know you’re wrong; you know your head isn’t winning this battle with your heart. You’ve seen it with your own eyes — the other-worldly vision, the impossible dribbles to get out of certain jail, the pinpoint crosses, the curling top-corner shots that no goalkeeper save Yann Sommer has been capable of reaching.
Lionel Messi. The greatest of all time.
Surely not… but you’ve seen it with your own eyes. You know it’s true.
To Aadam Patel’s credit, his question to Flick was more than fair. He noted that while Lamine is still so young, he commands significant attention in the Barcelona attack, which is accurate. He is a home-run passer and dribbler, which leads to a high turnover rate, and even so Flick still entrusts nearly 70 percent of the attacking volume to his right side, using Raphinha as more of an off-ball finisher. In the UEFA Champions League, that was even higher, peaking at around 80 or 90 percent in the semifinal legs against Inter Milan.
While the goals are brilliant, it’s the passing, vision, and dribbling that truly pop. His game-tying strike in the first half against Madrid was glorious, as he dribbled through three defenders before getting the ball in space on his left. While he did not register an assist against Los Blancos, he created three chances in the match, all considered “big chances” by Opta.
He delivered an outrageous outside-of-the-foot cross to Ferran Torres in the first half that wasn’t converted, and his jaw-dropping vertical through-ball for Raphinha late in the match saw the Brazilian inexplicably sky the chance from point-blank range. Both should have been scored. Both were Messi-like.
Nothing is a certainty until it has come to pass, and the kid — yes, he’s still a kid, Hansi — has his entire career in front of him. He has never won a Champions League title (Messi won five), has never reached a World Cup final (Messi has twice, winning one; Lamine Yamal hasn’t even played at a World Cup yet), has never scored a Clasico hat-trick (Messi has two, the only player to do so in the rivalry’s history), and has certainly never won a Ballon d’Or (Messi has eight, the most of any player ever).
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But here’s what we do know: already, Lamine Yamal is arguably the most accomplished teenager since Pele. Already with a European Championship under his belt, the likes of Wayne Rooney, Michael Owen, Kylian Mbappe… none of their accolades and accomplishments compare at the same age.
Barcelona fans have already fully embraced him. Lamine’s name was chanted the loudest during pre-match lineups at the latest Clasico victory. His goal sparked the loudest roar when the announcer read his name. And he accounted — by far — for the most jerseys worn at the Olympic Stadium, far more than even Messi, who dominated Camp Nou shoulder blades in his time.
Lamine Yamal has a lifetime of football ahead of him, and mountains to climb before he reaches the heights Messi has. The kid — for goodness’ sake, please remember he’s a kid — is just getting started. But it is clear he is the most “next Messi” player we’ve ever seen. All he must do is walk the path in front of him, and it will lead him to greatness.
