Barcelona Vs Inter Milan, Champions League SF: Martinez Plays Down Yamal Comparisons To Messi

Lautaro Martinez said he has been impressed by Lamine Yamal, but insisted that there is no comparison between Barcelona's teenage sensation and Lionel Messi. (UCL Semi-Final Preview | More Football News)

Yamal was thrust into the limelight in 2023-24, leading Spain to the European Championship title, and has carried on that form for Hansi Flick's team this season. 

The 17-year-old has 34 goal contributions (14 goals, 20 assists) across all competitions this campaign, helping his team keep their treble hopes alive. 

Yamal made just one outing in Barca's 2022-23 LaLiga success, but has been a more prominent figure for the Blaugrana to help win his second and third major title with the club this season. 

He scored in their Supercopa de Espana final win over Real Madrid, while also playing the duration of their dramatic Copa del Rey victory over their Clasico rivals last Saturday. 

His meteoric rise has seen comparisons made to eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Messi, who made 778 appearances for Barca in all competitions before leaving the club in 2021. 

The Argentine won 10 LaLiga titles along with four Champions League crowns with Barca, netting 672 goals and providing 303 assists across 17 glorious years. 

"For me, Leo [Messi] is incomparable, because Leo is and will always be the best player of all time," Martínez said of the Inter Miami captain.

"I'm not going to make that comparison. All I can say is that Lamine is an important player. We've all seen him, we all know him."

At 16, Yamal became the youngest scorer in LaLiga history and the youngest player ever to feature at a European Championship with Spain.

He won the Young Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024, and was also awarded the Golden Boy and Kopa Trophy last year. 

"At his young age, he's doing a great job and has won important titles with his national team," Martínez said of Yamal. 

"He deserves respect, he has a great future ahead of him."

Yamal himself has played down comparisons to Messi, saying: "I don't compare myself with him. 

"I don't want to compare me with anyone, and even less with Messi. That's something I leave to you.

"In the end, I only try to be better than yesterday. I admire Messi a lot, so I don't want to compare myself with the best player in football's history.

"I still haven't spoken with him in person."