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Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal has predicted that he will eventually transition into a central role, following in the tactical footsteps of club legend Lionel Messi. The 18-year-old high-flyer is currently tearing up the wings for club and country but believes moving inside is inevitable to escape the constant triple-marking he faces.

Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal is continuing to take the football world by storm, drawing lofty comparisons to a certain Argentine legend. As Spain prepare for their World Cup showdown with Saudi Arabia, the opposition camp has hailed the teenager as the primary heir to Lionel Messi's throne at Camp Nou.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has warned that comparing Lamine Yamal to footballing icons like Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona is a "mistake" that could hinder the teenager's development. Despite the caution, the La Roja boss admitted the Barcelona star belongs in a rare category of "geniuses" alongside historical figures like Michelangelo and Salvador Dali.

Lamine Yamal has weighed in on the eternal debate surrounding Lionel Messi, hailing the Argentine as the greatest of all time. However, the 18-year-old winger surprised fans by revealing that former Blaugrana maestro Neymar is actually his primary footballing idol.