Lamine Yamal: Why We Hid Photos With Messi To Dodge Comparisons

Lamine Yamal shared that his family kept photos of him as a baby with Lionel Messi hidden to avoid comparisons. The photos, taken in 2007 for a charity calendar, show Messi bathing a six-month-old Yamal alongside his mother. These images surfaced recently, drawing attention due to Yamal's impressive start at Barcelona.

Yamal, now 16, has been making headlines for his performances. He became the youngest-ever goalscorer at a major tournament during Spain's semi-final victory in Euro 2024. Spain is set to face England in the final on Sunday in Berlin.

Yamal explained that his father had kept the photos stored away to prevent any comparisons with Messi. "My dad had the photos saved, and they never came out, basically because we didn't want comparisons with Messi," he told Jijantes on Friday. This decision was made to protect Yamal from unrealistic expectations.

Despite the potential honour of being compared to Messi, Yamal acknowledged the downside. "No one would be annoyed to be compared with the best to ever play the game, but it's something that could work against you because you're never going to be like him," he said.

The young winger has drawn parallels to Messi due to his left-footed play on the right wing. However, Yamal stressed that he was unaware of the significance of those early moments with Messi. "Obviously, in the moment the photos were taken, I wasn't conscious of what was going on at that age," he added.

Yamal's rise in football has been meteoric. At just 15 years old, he made an explosive start at Barcelona, showcasing skills reminiscent of Messi's early days. This has inevitably led to discussions comparing him with the Argentinian legend.

Focus on Euro 2024 Final

Currently, Yamal is focused on preparing for Spain's upcoming match against England in the Euro 2024 final. His record-breaking performance throughout the tournament has been a highlight for fans and analysts alike.

A moment captured by UEFA EURO 2024 on Twitter shows Yamal celebrating after scoring in the semi-final: "A moment that will live forever #EURO2024 | #ESPFRA pic.twitter.com/N4xdp3LjtH".

The anticipation for Sunday's final is high as Spain aims for victory against England in Berlin. Fans are eager to see if Yamal can continue his remarkable form and help secure another triumph for his team.

The decision by Yamal's family to keep those early photos private reflects their desire to let him carve out his own identity in football without undue pressure from comparisons with one of the game's greatest players.