Lamine Yamal critics told to stop focusing on Barcelona star’s girlfriend and enjoy the ‘football genius’ as Spain boss holds Lionel Messi up as a 'mirror' for teenager

The Spain boss urged critics to celebrate his "genius" on the pitch instead of off-field matters. Speaking on RNE’s Radiogaceta de los Deportes, De la Fuente stressed that Yamal should be “enjoyed the same way you do Lionel Messi,” dismissing scrutiny of the winger’s cars, girlfriend and birthday controversies. His remarks come amid headlines about Yamal’s public relationship with Argentine singer Nicki Nicole and off the back of a legal probe into entertainment at his 18th birthday party.

Yamal has faced criticism over his private life, but he has been staunchly defended by those close to him, who insist attention should remain firmly on his football, including his national team's manager.

De la Fuente said: "Lamine is an 18-year-old, but very mature young man. He lives football intensely and knows how to handle a situation as complicated as making his debut with the national team at 16. We talk about the less pleasant aspects of football when we should be conveying the values it embodies. Lamine has a fantastic capacity for self-sacrifice, generosity... He's a football genius. We should focus on that more than whether he's bought a car, a motorcycle, or is seen with a girlfriend. Lamine hasn't done anything that could be criticised."

In addition to pushing back on off-field distractions, the starlet was compared with superstar Lionel Messi, not as a burden, but as inspiration for Yamal, saying: "He has a big mirror in front of him to look into. He has to embrace all the great things Messi has done. I hope we can enjoy Lamine in the same way we enjoyed Messi."

At just 18, Yamal is carrying the weight of Blaugrana’s future while being compared to Messi, the starlet is also in the contention of the football's most prestigious award Balllon d'Or. While, these off-field distractions highlight the growing challenges for modern football stars, who are often judged as much for their lifestyles as their performances. De la Fuente’s words are a reminder that Spain and Barca must shield Yamal from the noise if they want him to flourish.

Yamal made his Spain debut at just 16 years and 57 days old, becoming the youngest player and scorer in La Roja’s history. He also holds the record for the youngest player to appear in a Champions League knockout tie, underlining the once-in-a-generation nature of his rise.

Despite the noise surrounding his private life, Yamal’s focus remains firmly on football. Barcelona face Rayo Vallecano this weekend as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the new La Liga season. With the World Cup on the horizon, Yamal is expected to be a central figure for Spain, and his development over the next year could define both his club and country’s attacking future.