Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has urged people to stop comparing Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi, insisting the 18-year-old must be allowed to develop on his own terms rather than be measured against one of the greatest players the game has ever seen.
Yamal was only fit enough for a substitute appearance in Spain’s disappointing 0-0 draw with Cape Verde in their World Cup opener, coming on in the 71st minute despite still managing more dribble attempts than any other player on the pitch. He is expected to play a greater role against Saudi Arabia on Sunday, though De la Fuente declined to confirm whether he would start.
“It would be a mistake to compare him to anyone,” De la Fuente told reporters. “He is 18, in a process of development, of maturing. We have to let him follow his path. These kinds of players, who have something different, are ready for it. They are geniuses, like Salvador Dali or Michelangelo. What seems exceptional to us is not exceptional for them.”
On Yamal’s involvement against Saudi Arabia, De la Fuente was measured. “The best news is that he is here. Lamine is in a good moment. Whether he plays 55, 58 or 63 minutes, that will depend on the game. We will think about his contribution to the team and what is beneficial for him.”
The comparisons to Messi are understandable given the numbers Yamal has already accumulated at such a young age. In 26 appearances for Spain he has scored six goals and provided 11 assists, while his record of 49 goals and 45 assists in 151 matches for Barcelona underlines his extraordinary output for a player still in his teens. He is already Spain’s youngest debutant and youngest goalscorer in international football.
Spain must win against Saudi Arabia on Sunday to avoid a genuine crisis in Group H, where all four sides remain level on one point after the opening round.
