Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal has delivered a reality check on comparisons with his Barcelona predecessor Lionel Messi, declaring that emulating the Argentine’s longevity at the highest level is simply “impossible”.
The 18-year-old winger made the candid admission in a wide-ranging interview with Spanish newspaper El Pais on the eve of Spain’s crucial World Cup group-stage clash against Saudi Arabia.
When asked whether he envisions himself still playing at 40 like Messi – who turns 39 on June 24 – Yamal did not hesitate.
“Do I see myself playing until the age of 40 like Messi? Impossible,” Yamal said. “Maybe I’ll still be playing, but to be at that level? That’s very, very difficult. You also need a huge desire to keep going”.
The Barcelona forward reserved his highest praise for the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner, who continues to defy age on the international stage. “For me, Messi’s the best and he keeps proving it. He has an advantage over everyone and he’s 40 years old,” Yamal said.
‘The Best Is Yet to Come’
Despite his meteoric rise – which has seen him shatter numerous records and establish himself as one of world football’s most exciting talents – Yamal insisted he has plenty of room for improvement.
“I see myself as much better than people see me. I know the road ahead is very long and that I have many things to improve,” he told El Pais. “I know people see me as if this is my level and that’s it. But I can use all that confidence I have for many things. I insist: I have a long way to go, a lot to improve. And a lot, a lot, a lot of football”.
The teenager also offered a fascinating tactical insight into his positional future, drawing yet another parallel with Messi’s career evolution. Yamal predicted he will eventually move from the wing into central areas, just as Messi did in his later years at Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain.
“I think Messi also had three players marking him on the wing. The only place where they can’t really do that is in central areas because there’s much more space and movement,” Yamal explained. “Over time, I’ll move there because on the wing it’s easier for teams to defend against you with three players, while in the middle that’s much harder”.
World Cup Challenges
Yamal’s comments come as Spain desperately seeks its first win of the 2026 World Cup following a disappointing 0-0 draw against Cape Verde in their opener. The winger made only a brief 25-minute cameo in that match – his first appearance in nearly two months after struggling with injuries. He is expected to feature more prominently against Saudi Arabia at Atlanta’s stadium.
Reflecting on his journey, Yamal also touched on the sacrifices that come with early fame. Being in the public eye since the age of 13 has cost him a normal adolescence, he admitted, preventing simple pleasures like shopping or going to the cinema without being recognised.
He also offered a critique of modern youth development, suggesting that structured coaching at too young an age stifles creativity. “The problem I see with the players coming up now is that they join a football team at four years old, and on the team, they tell you: ‘Okay, the full-back has to control the ball and pass it to the winger; the winger has to control it and pass it to the midfielder’,” he said.
Spain will face Uruguay on June 27 after their Saudi Arabia encounter, as they look to salvage their World Cup campaign. For Yamal, the immediate focus remains on team success rather than individual glory – but even as he chases greatness, he knows the summit Messi occupies may forever remain out of reach.
