Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal told what he must do to hit ‘dizzy heights’ after earning Lionel Messi comparisons

The teen sensation has been likened to Argentine GOAT Messi since stepping out of the same La Masia academy system in Catalunya as the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. Many are tipping him to go on and land Golden Balls of his own.

Positive progress is being made down that path, with Yamal already winning La Liga and European Championship titles. He has signed a lucrative contract after turning 18 and inherited the No.10 shirt at Barca that Messi once wore with such distinction.

Yamal’s every move, on and off the field, is now being dissected in minute detail. He is having to learn quickly how to handle that attention while avoiding the kind of distractions that could knock the most promising of careers off course.

Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has told FIFA’s official website of Yamal’s exciting potential: “He’s earned it all through his own hard work and commitment. At the tender age of 16, the teenage sensation was already ripping it up for the senior national team. We need to give credit where credit’s due. A 16, 17, or 18-year-old player is under constant scrutiny and pressure from the media. He has to work his socks off to meet people’s expectations of him, as well as set an example both on and off the pitch and keep developing.

“He still needs our support because he’s very young. He is very mature for his age, but he still needs to develop his game and mature further. It’s all part of the process. Here, you never stop improving and developing your game. That’s why we need to be there to support him.”

De la Fuente added: “He’s an exceptional player, with bags of natural ability and extraordinary talent. He’s completely switched on, and I think it’s important to point out that he knows that without hard work and commitment, he won’t achieve the dizzy heights many people have tipped him to reach.

“The harder you work, the better you become. He works tirelessly. He puts the graft in every day to keep improving. We need to support him in his development, but he’s a clever player and latches on to things very quickly, just like the very best.”

Yamal has done his best to steer clear of the Messi comparisons, preferring to focus on building his own legacy, but could not wish for a better role model when it comes to climbing the global talent ladder and settling at the very top.