Spain’s coach: “Comparing Lamine Yamal to Messi is a big mistake.”
Spain’s coach shields Lamine Yamal from Messi’s shadow.
Spain’s national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, has issued a stern warning to the media against excessive praise of 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal. He emphasized that comparing the young Barcelona star to legends like Lionel Messi or Diego Maradona is a mistake that could ruin the player’s future.
Entering the 2026 World Cup campaign, Lamine Yamal was one of the names receiving the highest expectations from Spanish fans. However, the winger has gone through a difficult period after suffering a muscle injury in April while playing for his club. In Spain’s disappointing opening match, a 0-0 draw against weaker opponent Cape Verde, Yamal was only fit enough to come on as a substitute for the last 20 minutes of the game. The invisible pressure from the media and the public that immediately fell on the young player forced coach De la Fuente to speak out in defense of his pupil.
“It would be a huge mistake to compare him to anyone,” the Spanish strategist frankly shared. “He is only 18 years old, still developing both physically and mentally. What we need to do now is be patient, protect him, and let him walk his own path to maturity.”
Lamine Yamal was defended by the Spanish coach and shone in the match against Saudi Arabia on June 22nd (Photo: BR Football)
Despite vehemently rejecting direct comparisons to Messi to ease pressure on his player, coach De la Fuente still praised Yamal’s genius. He likened the young striker to great masters of art in history such as Michelangelo or Salvador Dalí, and affirmed that the spectacular goals and skillful techniques that are considered extremely difficult for ordinary people are performed by Yamal completely naturally.
Besides protecting his player’s mental state, the Spanish national team’s coaching staff also took special care in managing Yamal’s workload to avoid the risk of recurring injuries. De la Fuente’s timely and scientific protection immediately yielded positive results.
Just one day after the coach’s statements, Lamine Yamal was named in the starting lineup for the crucial match against Saudi Arabia on June 22nd. Living up to expectations, the 18-year-old star shone brightly with the opening goal, contributing to Spain’s crushing 4-0 victory. This goal not only dispelled all doubts about Yamal’s form but also officially broke the curse, ending Spain’s bitter 299-minute goalless streak at the World Cup.
