Lamine Yamal dismisses comparisons with Mbappé and Haaland

Lamine Yamal has dismissed comparisons with Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland ahead of Spain’s World Cup match against Saudi Arabia. The 18-year-old Barcelona winger spoke in an interview with TVE, addressing his respect for Lionel Messi while rejecting the idea of chasing fame or replicating others. "Messi is the best player in history. If anyone has any doubt, it’s because they’re looking for it," Yamal said. "There’s nothing else to say, he is the best." Yamal’s comments came as Spain seek to prove their World Cup credentials after a draw against Cape Verde. He expressed confidence in facing the tournament’s toughest opponents, stating: "I hope so, to win the World Cup, you have to face the best. We are Spain, and we want to face the best." Spain missed a potential Finalissima clash with Argentina earlier this year, leaving an open path for a meeting at the World Cup. The Barcelona forward also rejected the notion of obsessing over comparisons with global stars. "I don’t want this to become an obsession for me," he said. "It’s not about impersonating Mbappé or, if Messi scores a goal, wanting to score one too. No, I don’t care about that." He emphasized his different playing style and age gap, adding: "They’re 10 years older than me." Yamal’s maturity shone through as he described his approach to the tournament. "I want to listen," he said. "I might score 16 goals and then fall short in the semi-finals. So that’s not what I’m looking for." His focus remains on contributing to the team rather than individual accolades.

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On his training mood, Yamal joked about media speculation. "I understand that journalists’ job is to talk about something," he said. "When there’s nothing to talk about, maybe they’ll have to invent something. But I was playing PlayStation all night and was asleep." He also reflected on facing tight defensive blocks, a familiar challenge at Barcelona. "I think we’re used to that in Barcelona," Yamal said. "All the matches are like this. The important thing is to try to help. I’m used to it, so I try to help the team." Yamal confirmed his readiness for action against Saudi Arabia. "I’m excited for the Sunday match," he said. "I feel good physically. I’m ready for whatever the coach asks of me." His confidence extends to Spain’s supporters, whom he urged to trust the team’s style.

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"On Sunday we will go to achieve the victory," Yamal told fans. "And of course we will bring our playing style and show who we are. And together we will overcome everything." He closed with a message of unity: "I’m also sure that we will all be together on July 19. See you soon, and a hug to everyone."