Lionel Messi vs Lamine Yamal, a clash that will have to wait
The expected meeting between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will have to wait after the cancellation of La Finalissima.
The expected meeting between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal will have to wait after the cancellation of La Finalissima.
The two players are often compared because of their talent and the young age at which they emerged in international football, but the suspension of the match between Argentina and Spain means that the anticipated clash will not happen for now.
Lionel Messi vs Lamine Yamal: stats, achievements and origins
Both the World Cup champion with Argentina and the European champion with Spain came through La Masia, the youth academy of Barcelona, where they impressed with their talent and creativity.
Messi joined the first team of Barcelona at 17 years and three months, during a period when Ronaldinho was the team’s main star.
Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal made his club debut at 15 years and nine months, quickly becoming one of the brightest young talents in European football.
Both players won the Golden Boy award, although their achievements at the age of 17 differ.
Messi had one Copa del Rey, while Yamal reached that age with two league titles, one Super Cup and one Copa del Rey.
Although Yamal debuted earlier with his national team, Messi was part of the most successful Barcelona era under Pep Guardiola and has already won the World Cup.
The viral photo of Messi holding baby Yamal
Back in 2007, photographer Joan Monfort organized a charity photo session together with Sport newspaper and UNICEF.
“We made the calendar with UNICEF’s help. UNICEF held a draw in the Roca Fonda neighborhood of Mataró, where Lamine’s family lived. They entered the draw to take a photo at Camp Nou with a Barça player — and they won,” Monfort explained to AP.
“Messi is very introverted and shy. He had just left the dressing room and suddenly found himself in another locker room with a plastic tub full of water and a baby inside. It was complicated. At first he didn’t even know how to hold him,” Monfort added about the photo session that took place in the visiting locker room at Camp Nou.
