Barcelona star Lamine Yamal reveals what he admires about club legend Lionel Messi

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has stated that he admires club legend Lionel Messi's winning mentality and desire to win. Messi came through the club's famed La Masia academy and established himself as the best player in their history.

Since Messi's departure from the club in 2021, La Blaugrana have struggled to replace his quality in the final third. For a while, it seemed like academy graduate Ansu Fati would take the reins, but the forward struggled with multiple injuries which have hampered his career.

Lamine Yamal broke into the first team last season and has been a bright spark for the club since then. Yamal was included in Messi's +10 team, as the legendary Argentine playmaker revealed in an Instagram post.

Speaking about Messi in the video, Yamal said (via Lionel Messi on Instagram):

"I really admire Messi's mentality and desire to win. In the end, he has won Champions Leagues, Ballons d'Or, and he always wants more. He didn't rest until he won the World Cup. That's what I admire most about him."

In the newly released episode, he also added (via AlbicelesteTalk on X):

"What I like most about Messi's style of play is how natural he is in everything he does. He can be in a final and easily pass between four defenders. There is no player like him. You may do your best and work right for two years but when we talk about Messi there is only one."

Lionel Messi remains one of the greatest players in Barcelona's long history. The legendary playmaker scored 672 goals and provided 303 assists in 778 appearances for the club.

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Lionel Messi picks Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal as a player that reminds him of his younger days

Lionel Messi has picked Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal as the player who reminds him of his younger days at Camp Nou. At an Adidas event in the sporting giants' headquarters in Germany, the legendary playmaker spoke about Yamal, stating (via ESPN):

"There's a very good generation of young footballers who have many years ahead of them. If I have to choose someone, because of the age and because of the future that he has, I've heard that they have chosen Lamine Yamal and without doubt [it's him] for me, too."

"I agree it depends on him and many things because that's how soccer is, but he's the present and without a doubt has a huge future."

Lamine Yamal broke into Barca's first team in 2023, and his impressive performances opened a pathway for him to join the Spain national team. He was instrumental in winning Euro 2024 with La Roja, and he has continued his remarkable run of form this season.

Yamal has scored six goals and providing 12 assists in 21 games across competitions for Barca.