Lamine Yamal’s rise has been one of the biggest stories in world football. At only 18, he is already a starter for Fc Barcelona, a Ballon d’Or runner-up, and the best-selling footballer on the planet with 1.3 million shirts sold in 2025.
Yamal’s talent has naturally drawn comparisons to Lionel Messi, the greatest academy product in the club’s history and Yamal’s own childhood idol. But this week, the comparison took a sharp turn after former striker Louis Saha delivered one of the strongest public warnings yet.
Saha stated bluntly that Yamal “will never reach Lionel Messi,” adding that the young winger lacks the same discipline and obsession that defined Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
Saha’s full comment was direct and harsh:
“Could Lamine Yamal one day overtake Messi? It would be good for him, but I don’t think so. I doubt that he can achieve that because I see Lamine Yamal’s quality as a player, but I don’t see an obsession where you really focus on your football that Cristiano Ronaldo also has,”
He went further by comparing Yamal to Neymar, saying the Brazilian had “maybe better quality” but was pulled away by distractions. With Yamal already facing criticism after his poor performance against Chelsea, the timing only intensified the noise around him.
Barcelona and Lamine Yamal’s loss to Chelsea
The 3-0 defeat at Stamford Bridge became a symbolic low point. Marc Cucurella controlled Yamal throughout the match, with Chelsea fans chanting “you’re just a sh*t Estevao.” The winger was substituted in the 80th minute—his first such removal of the season—after being neutralized by Cucurella, who later joked that he had Yamal “in his pocket.”
The scrutiny is amplified by Yamal’s recent off-field distractions and the pubalgia that has limited his impact in recent weeks. His numbers remain impressive—37 goals and 48 assists for club and country—but expectations have risen faster than any young player can realistically manage. Even legends like Santi Cazorla have urged restraint, saying:
“Comparisons with Messi and Cristiano are not good for anyone. Lamine must write his own story.”
Yet even amid the pressure, Yamal’s ambition remains clear. In a recent interview, he said he aims to win the Champions League, the World Cup, and the Ballon d’Or:
“I want everything.”
Messi himself praised him last year, calling him “the present” with a “huge future,” while Ronaldo also predicted he will be one of the best of his generation.
The question now is not whether Yamal resembles Messi, but whether he can handle the expectations that come with the comparison. The talent is unquestioned. The verdict—like Saha warned—depends on focus, consistency, and the ability to grow through adversity.