Udaipur, May 4, 2025: He doesn’t like being compared to Lionel Messi. But can anyone stop what people want to talk about?

If something else is written in fate, there’s nothing you can do. The same goes for Lamine Yamal. He may not like the comparisons with Messi, but fate has tied him to the Argentine legend in such a way that even if he wants to avoid it, he can't. People are already comparing Yamal to Messi, and these comparisons may only grow stronger in the days ahead.

This comparison mostly comes from their time at Barcelona. Many fans see similarities between Messi’s playing style at Barça and Yamal’s. Yamal plays on the right wing like Messi, wears the same jersey, and is also left-footed. But he can use both feet well, just like knives. Yamal also reminds fans of Messi when he cuts through the defense from the right, moves into the box, and scores with a curved shot using his left foot.

There are more similarities, too. It’s not an exact match, but you could call it a twist of fate.

Messi and Yamal: A Shared Path to Greatness

When Yamal was just 6 months old, Messi was a 20-year-old teenager at Barcelona. As part of an annual charity event organised by local media outlet Dario Sport and UNICEF, Barcelona players posed for a calendar with children from several families. By chance, Messi stood next to 6-month-old Yamal and his mother. Later, Messi picked Yamal up and held him in a tub. After Yamal’s father posted the photo on social media in July last year, many people saw it as a “baptism” (initiation) moment. At that time, Messi was already being compared to Yamal, who was considered the future of Barcelona.

The Present: Yamal Follows in Messi’s Footsteps

Now, Yamal is close to becoming the centre of Barcelona at just 17 years old, much like Messi was in his time. Last week, he scored an amazing goal against Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final, marking his 100th match for Barcelona. Just like Messi, who made his 100th appearance for the club, Yamal’s journey began at the youth team of Barcelona’s “La Masia” academy before making it to the first team. Messi debuted at 16, while Yamal made his debut at 15. The rest, as they say, is history.

Messi and Yamal: A Comparison of Their First 100 Matches

It is difficult to compare the two, but fans are debating who had the better performance in their first 100 matches at Barcelona. Some have even joked about it on social media, using the famous "Spider-Man meme" to show that Yamal and Messi are almost identical in their paths. Both players have had remarkable careers, but the question remains: will anyone ever reach the heights Messi achieved?

Statistics: Yamal vs Messi in Their First 100 Matches

Coaches Are Impressed by Both Players

After watching Yamal’s performance against Inter Milan, Italian coach Simone Inzaghi said, “A player like Yamal comes around once in 50 years. I haven’t seen anyone like him for a long time.” Similarly, Fabio Capello made a similar comment about Messi when he saw him play in 2005, saying, “I haven’t seen a player of such talent at this age for a long time.”

Differences in Their Early Careers

There are reasons for the differences in how quickly Yamal reached his 100th match compared to Messi. Yamal joined Barcelona’s first team during a period when the club was struggling financially and on the field. The team had to rely on young players like Yamal to perform. On the other hand, Messi debuted in a team filled with stars like Ronaldinho, Deco, Henrik Larsson, and Samuel Eto’o, so his rise was slower.

Titles Won at 100 Matches

Yamal: La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Super Cup.

Messi: Two La Liga titles, one Super Cup, and one Champions League.

The differences in titles won by each player are understandable, considering the team dynamics at the time. Messi himself has acknowledged that Yamal is following in his footsteps. In an interview, Messi said, "He is only 17 years old and is still growing. He will grow as a player, just like I have grown."

Yamal’s View on Comparisons to Messi

Yamal has made it clear that he does not compare himself to Messi. “I don’t compare myself to anyone. Messi is a long way away,” he said.

However, it’s clear that the path Yamal is walking at Barcelona is very similar to Messi's. The steps are the same, and the rest of the journey remains to be seen. Time will tell how far Yamal can go.