Lamine Yamal given Lionel Messi advice in bid to become 'God of football' - with Barcelona wonderkid warned talent will not be enough

Comparisons between two La Masia academy graduates have been made ever since another left-footed forward burst onto the senior scene in Catalonia. Yamal was handed his competitive debut at just 15 years of age.

He is posting numbers and achieving feats that Messi cannot claim to have matched at the same age, with Yamal already a La Liga and European Championship winner at 18. The youngster is considered to be a serious Ballon d’Or contender.

Yamal is, however, being urged to avoid allowing distractions to knock his promising career off track, with important ego advice being offered. He only needs to look to Messi for inspiration when it comes to reaching the top of the game and staying there.

Mundo Deportivo report on the Messi vs Yamal debate: “There's no need to compare them, because Leo's achievements are practically unattainable. Just as was done with Leo, Lamine must be nurtured and warned that if he wants to be crowned the God of football, he can't fall into the temptation of thinking that his immense talent will be enough.

“He must maintain, as he has until now, his humility, consistency, commitment, and dedication to serving the team. Flick must have seen something to warn of the danger of egos. What's reassuring is that Lamine himself acknowledged that ‘he must raise his level’.”

Yamal has inherited the No.10 shirt at Barcelona that Messi once wore with distinction. Impressive standards are being maintained on the field, but the teenager is seeing his private life come under the microscope and needs to be wary of making untimely mistakes.