Young Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has made it clear: despite frequent comparisons, he does not want to be Lionel Messi; he wants to carve out his own identity. In a fresh interview, Yamal admitted he deeply respects Messi as “the best in history,” but stressed, “I don’t want to be Messi, and he knows it.”

He said he has no intention of imitating Messi’s playing style or wearing his iconic number 10 shirt—Yamal wants to “follow his own path.” The teenager explained that while he learned from watching Messi, his football philosophy is about enjoyment, creativity, and entertaining the fans—not chasing records.

Yamal also revealed that despite his meteoric rise, a strong support circle—especially his mother—keeps him grounded and focused on personal growth rather than hype.