Why Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal will be handled like Lionel Messi & Diego Maradona as Spain boss Luis de la Fuente says 16-year-old sensation has no limits

At just 16 years of age, Yamal is already an established performer at club level with La Liga giants Barca and a senior international with two caps to his name. The talented teenager has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence, but he is far from being the finished article.

Rather than look to rein him in as ever greater demands are lumped onto young shoulders, De la Fuente says Yamal will be given license to flourish and learn at his own pace – with a similar approach having allowed Argentine icons Messi and Maradona to become global superstars.

Spain boss De la Fuente has said of helping Yamal down a career path that could lead to the very top of the game: “He has fantastic potential and conditions. We have to take care of him, he is young. But, do you remember when Messi or Maradona were 16 years old? We should not put limits on these good footballers. We must let them develop all their potential. That's what we're trying to do with this player here and at his club.”

Yamal has been a regular under Xavi at Camp Nou this season, as he waits on a first senior goal for the Blaugrana, and is back in the Spain squad – having already made history when opening his account for them – ahead of Euro 2024 qualifiers against Scotland and Norway.