Lionel Messi comparisons put Lamine Yamal under ‘maximum’ pressure as legendary former Barcelona captain Carles Puyol warns against putting ‘label’ on teenage wonderkid

According to El Pais, Puyol addressed the widespread comparisons being made between Messi and Yamal, who have both shone for Barca at a young age after emerging from the club's prestigious La Masia academy. The retired Spanish defender, who made almost 600 appearances for the club, said it was unfair to burden Yamal with super high expectations.

Admittedly, it's hard not to get carried away with Yamal. As well as playing a starring role in Spain's triumphant Euro 2024 campaign at the tender age of 17, the highly intelligent and technical winger also recently won Tuttosport's Golden Boy award after registering five goals and nine assists in his 15 La Liga appearances in 2024/25. He's a remarkably talented player and given his exquisite playmaking ability, you can see where the Messi comparisons have come from.

The 46-year-old former World Cup winner urged people not to put too much pressure on Yamal, saying: "If we put the label of Leo on him. The pressure is already maximum. What Leo has done and continues to do is incredible and it will be very difficult to see a player like that again."

Expectations about Yamal's future will only increase if the 17-year-old continues scoring and creating at his current rate throughout the rest of this campaign. Next up in La Liga his team have a chance to punish Real Madrid for failing to dispatch Rayo Vallecano this weekend, as they host Leganes on Sunday evening.