Lamine Yamal: Cesc Fabregas names ‘unique’ Barcelona star among world’s best, backs Lionel Messi comparisons
Published 17/10/2024 at 12:49 GMT+1
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Lamine Yamal has been dubbed as the most talented player in the world by former Barcelona and Spain midfielder Cesc Fabregas, who feels the "unique" winger is "already a sign of a big player". Fabregas also admitted he could see the comparisons made between the 17-year-old Yamal and the legendary Lionel Messi when the Barca legend was a similar age to the teenager.
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Cesc Fabregas believes Lamine Yamal is currently among the most talented players in the world and has even backed claims comparing the teenager to the legendary Lionel Messi.
Yamal, 17, enjoyed a thrilling breakthrough 2023/24 season, where he produced 16 goal contributions in 50 matches across all competitions for Barcelona.
With an impressive debut season under his belt, Yamal announced himself on the international stage at UEFA Euro 2024 as he helped Spain claim success with a stunning goal in the semi-final against France and an assist in the final.
This season, he has already racked up 10 goals and assists in 11 games for his club side.
Former Spain and Barca midfielder Fabregas feels the “impact he’s having” makes Yamal the most talented player on the globe right now.
“When you have this type of talent, this type of quality, for me to see the freedom and how he expresses himself on the pitch, it's fantastic to see because of the creativity,” he told ESPN.
"I think he's a unique talent. He's someone that you just need to let him go out and play football.
“He will always make a difference when he's pressed. When he's not pressed, he always finds the right solution, even if it's an individual action or a one-two, or the last ball, or give continuity to the play, whatever the game demands in that moment.
“He's capable of reading [the game] and he's capable of understanding what it needs.
"I think this is already a sign of a big player, of a very mature player. And what I like the most is that it feels like he's playing in the street. It feels like everything becomes so easy for him. He's free in the mind."
Fabregas on comparisons between Yamal and Messi
Fabregas even touched on the bold comparisons made between Yamal and a teenage Messi, who broke into the Barca first team at a similar age in 2004.
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Lionel Messi
Image credit: Getty Images
The Argentine has gone on to become arguably the greatest player of all time and has scored 844 goals to date across an iconic career.
Messi has won an array of league titles, UEFA Champions League medals and international honours, including a long-awaited FIFA World Cup triumph in 2022.
Fabregas feels Yamal has the potential to reach the same heights as eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi.
"I don't like it because I think every player is different and we all have our own story, and now Lamine needs to follow his own road and create his own pathway,” he said.
“But definitely, there are signs that always make you go back to what Leo used to be.
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“I think it's completely normal, especially also the Barcelona fans coming from a difficult period of years where there's been some difficulties.
"So I think the excitement that Lamine brings to the table nowadays, it's very important. It's like Leo, you know, in difficult times, he stepped up for the team.
"And I think with Lamine, the potential is there to do very, very well for many years at Barcelona."
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