Former Real Madrid coach Fabio Capello has shared his thoughts on the ongoing comparisons between Barcelona’s rising star, Lamine Yamal, and football legend Lionel Messi.
Since breaking into the Barcelona first team, the 17-year-old Spain international has impressed fans and pundits. Many see similarities between him and Messi, as both players came from Barcelona’s famous youth academy, La Masia.
Yamal, like Messi, plays as a right-winger and has a strong left foot. His excellent dribbling, ball control, and influence on the game have further fueled the comparisons. Since his debut in April 2023, he has played 86 games for Barcelona, scoring 18 goals and providing 23 assists.
Despite his rapid rise, Capello believes Yamal is not at Messi’s level. Speaking in an interview with MARCA, Capello said, “He’s a kid who is doing important things. When he started at Barcelona, people said he was the new Messi. He doesn’t reach that level. He’s an extraordinary, spectacular, top player, but he doesn’t have Messi’s genius.”
While he may not reach Messi’s greatness, Yamal has already made history. He finished eighth in the Ballon d’Or rankings and won both the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy. At such a young age, he has a bright future ahead of him.
