At just 17 years, 3 months, and 13 days old, rising star Lamine Yamal has already achieved milestones that took Lionel Messi longer to reach.
At the same age, Messi had yet to play an official match for Barcelona, only featuring in seven friendly games.
Messi’s official debut for FC Barcelona came on October 16, 2004, during a derby against Espanyol, when he was 17 years, 3 months, and 22 days old.
Leading up to that, he appeared only in friendly matches, including games against Porto (his first appearance at 16 years, 4 months, and 24 days), Banyoles, Figueres, Palamós (where he scored his first goal), Hércules, Kashima Antlers (scoring again), and Olympique de Marseille.
In those early days, Messi’s then-manager, Frank Rijkaard, adopted a cautious approach, easing the young talent into competitive football with patience.
However, the landscape of modern football has changed, with emerging players like Lamine Yamal accelerating at a pace once unimaginable.
Yamal is the perfect example of this trend. At the same age, he has already become a significant presence in both club and international football.
He’s even drawn the attention of Europe’s top clubs, with one offer rumored to be as high as €250 million.
After an outstanding summer that saw him win the Euro Championship, Yamal has further cemented his place as a young football phenomenon, including appearances in high-stakes games like El Clásico against Real Madrid.
Blending audacity with skill, Yamal stands out as a rare talent. At just 17, he has already made his official debut more than a year ago and has continued to shine with 64 first-team appearances, scoring 12 goals and contributing 7 assists.
By comparison, Messi hadn’t yet made his official debut at this age. With matches against Real Madrid and Espanyol coming up, Yamal’s numbers may soon reach even higher levels.
Yamal’s impressive start has fueled discussions about how his early career compares to Messi’s legendary trajectory. While breaking records in appearances and assists seems plausible, Messi’s monumental 672 goals for Barcelona may remain a distant target.
Still, if anyone seems poised to challenge that legacy, it’s Lamine Yamal, who, with every game, brings the football world closer to imagining the next great icon.
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