Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring in Barcelona's Champions League round of 16 match against Benfica at the Olympic Stadium in Barcelona, Spain on 11/3. Photo: AP

Lamine Yamal, the rising star of Barcelona, revealed his unique philosophy on football and his aspirations in a recent interview. Despite comparisons, Yamal stated his desire to forge his own path, distinct from football legend Lionel Messi. His approach emphasizes joy, entertainment, and a deep connection to the sport that began in his childhood.

When asked about his playing style, Yamal described it as "joyful." "Playing football is the best part of my day," he explained. "I go out and enjoy it with my teammates. People notice when I'm happy with the ball, and it shows in my play." He sees himself primarily as an entertainer who brings happiness to fans. "My goal isn't to break records, score a million goals, or dribble a million times. I just want to enjoy the emotion football brings and hope young children watching me want to become like me."

Yamal identifies his "superpower" on the field as the ability to change people's moods. "If someone is sad and comes to the stadium, they watch me play and feel lighter when they go home," he shared. He never enters a game with specific scoring or assisting targets. Instead, his focus is on enjoying the game, applying what he learned, and playing the "old-school park football" he grew up with. He believes football extends beyond goals and assists, aiming for everyone, from teammates to spectators, to feel happy.

His confidence and instinct guide him in challenging situations. Faced with three defenders, Yamal maintains his composure. "Even with three opponents in front, I never think they'll take the ball," he said. "Though I do lose the ball often, I always want to confront them. That's my style. If I passed every time I saw two or three opponents, I'd be a different player. I try to resolve the situation as best as possible, contributing to the team's benefit." This approach, he noted, is primarily driven by instinct and self-belief.

Yamal's profound love for football stems from his upbringing in a modest neighborhood. "Growing up in less affluent areas, football was everything," he recalled. "The ball brings equality to everyone. Whether your family is rich or poor, on the field, everyone is equal and can make friends. Just a ball and a goal create emotion. That's the love football brings; it's my first love and always will be. My friends, my father, my mother, and I — we all love football madly. Football is my whole life and will always be with me." Among his favorite goals, he cited his strike against France in Euro 2024 and a goal against Club Brugge in this season's Champions League.

Lamine Yamal's exceptional performance in the match against France.

Yamal also discussed his approach to opponents. During a summer tour match against a weaker South Korean team, he admitted to "easing off the gas" when he felt he was dominating too much. "It wasn't out of pity, because we're all playing football, but I tried to slow down the tempo. After all, we're all human," he explained. "Those players face me, and that image will spread. But in a Champions League match, I would never do that." He empathized with opposing defenders, noting, "If I were a defender, I wouldn't like a player constantly eliminating me. I'd tell him, 'Slow down a bit, or my friends will make memes about me.'"

Recalling his Barcelona debut at 15 years old, Yamal described a mix of anxiety and excitement. "When I stepped onto the field, I wasn't nervous, but during warm-ups, seeing Camp Nou, knowing I was about to play, that a dream was coming true... I was truly anxious," he said. "It was a positive anxiety, a burning sensation in my stomach, time flying by. It was a mix of adrenaline, anxiety, and eagerness." He humorously added that the last time he felt scared was "when I returned to my mother's house after summer vacation."

Comparing the challenges, Yamal found playing as a child in his old neighborhood of Rocafonda more difficult than playing for Barcelona. "There, no child knew what their future held: footballer, architect, artist, or even nothing at all," he reflected. "Back then, we played just for fun. Everyone dreamed of being a footballer, but no one thought it would come true. So, I find that time harder than playing for Barca. I saw my parents working hard, not always being there for me, and I felt insecure, not knowing my future." His mother, he explained, had "everything to say and 'scold' me for" after his long absence. He also reminisced about his early morning train commutes with his father to practice with Barcelona, describing them as "adventures" despite the cold, long journeys, and hunger.

On representing a "new Spain," Yamal believes it's a collective decision, not an individual one. "When I was young, people already chose who the team's star would be; players don't decide that themselves," he stated. "I think what's important is whether fans want to trust me, want to dream with me. I'm happy to be creating excitement and hope for the Spanish people, for Barca fans. I am one of the options for them. I know many people come to the stadium to watch me play. But I don't let that get to my head and control me. I will always be ready if people place their trust in me."

Yamal also addressed his choice to play for Spain over Morocco, his ancestral homeland. "It's true I once thought, 'I could play for Morocco'," he admitted, especially after Morocco reached the World Cup semifinals. "But when faced with reality, I never hesitated. With all the affection and respect for Morocco, I always dreamed of playing in a Euro, of competing in Europe. I think European football is watched more and is closer to the international level. I wanted to win the Euro, and fortunately, I did, and soon I will play in a World Cup with a chance to win. I will always love Morocco; it's also my homeland. Honestly, if I played for the Moroccan team, there would be nothing strange or bad about it, but I grew up in Spain and also feel it's my home."

Yamal poses with his parents while attending the Ballon d'Or awards ceremony. Photo: AP

Surprisingly, Yamal revealed he didn't focus much on dribbling as a child. "I hardly dribbled much. I never eliminated many opponents," he said. Instead, he scored many goals, ran a lot, and developed good vision. "From a young age, I looked at Messi to learn, so I often made unusual passes. I saw many players make beautiful long passes, but Messi passed to assist. I learned many outside-of-the-foot passes (trivela) from Modric. I find those things more interesting than a simple dribble. As a child, I played with my head more."

Despite playing in Euro 2024 at 16, Yamal maintains a grounded perspective. "I never thought, 'I'm 16 and playing in the Euro'," he said. "We treat it as normal. Get on the bus, scroll social media, listen to music, fall asleep because I'm tired. Arrive at the stadium, play, enjoy, go back to the hotel, and sleep again. I never think I'm playing in the Euro. I just think this is a tournament I dreamed of participating in, and I will have fun with it."

Yamal dismisses the concept of pressure. "Pressure is something in everyone's head. I've never felt it and don't know if I ever will," he stated. "My parents are the ones who face real pressure: having me young, worrying about family, work, making their children happy, buying them gifts... That's pressure, a burden. I don't feel pressure when I play football. I just try to enjoy it and think that my friends have gone through much harder times than me, while I get to play football."

Looking ahead to his first World Cup, Yamal has high expectations. "I set high goals," he affirmed. "It's been a long time since Spain came to a World Cup as a real contender. I see the whole country excited, and so am I. There couldn't be a better time. I feel important and in good form. I'm very eager for opening day." When asked if he believes Spain will win the World Cup, he responded simply, "Yes." He also shared that he plans to keep his braces for the World Cup, finding them "beautiful."

Yamal views expectations similarly to pressure, as something external. "Expectations are dangerous," he warned. "If you meet them, you run out of goals; if you don't, it's easy to collapse. I only have self-confidence that I can achieve whatever I want." This mindset acts as his "lifeline" through difficulties. "Life always holds unexpected situations beyond our predictions. My personality has helped me stand firm," he explained. "When things are at their worst, I choose to think positively. This helps me rarely fall. In football, that's the most important factor. I never go to bed feeling down or sad. I always believe that tomorrow I'll do better, and the weekend will bring a successful match. That's what has helped me survive in this harsh world."

Successful athletes often have people around them who keep them grounded. For Yamal, that person is his mother. "Honestly, everyone close to me says 'No'," he said. "I say I want to go out, they say no. I say I want to eat, they say no. The question is: Who do I listen to? The answer is my mother." He affectionately calls her "the queen." "There are things that won't change, no matter how many goals I score... My mother doesn't care about goals. She makes the decisions, and I'm perfectly happy with that."

Yamal acknowledges the difficulty of having a normal teenage life. "It's hard. Even if I wanted to, I could never be normal again," he lamented. "An 18-year-old leaves school and goes home. After training, I have four paparazzi standing outside my house asking about my private life. I turn on the TV and see myself there. I walk down the street and see a child wearing my jersey. I want to go out for a drink with friends, but I can't because people keep stopping me. These things are normal. I try to find simple joys like playing PlayStation, eating with my mother, being with my younger brother, but honestly, I will never be a 'normal' 18-year-old, because people don't see me as normal, and I can't act like it either."

The conversation eventually turned to Messi, a topic Yamal anticipated. "I'm surprised," he remarked. "There were many times you could have mentioned Messi but didn't. I was waiting for this question. This is the latest this topic has been brought up in an interview." Yamal expressed deep respect for Messi's contributions to football, calling him "the greatest player in history." However, he emphasized his desire to carve his own path. "I believe Messi knows I am a good player and respects him. It's mutual respect, and we both know that I don't want to become Messi. I want to go my own way. I don't want to play like him, I don't want to wear the number 10 jersey because of him, or anything similar."

Yamal's ability to create "magic" in tense moments is something he attributes to his street football days. "In the neighborhood where I played, there was a small pitch surrounded by walls where people would sit," he explained. "There's no better feeling than making those sitting stand up, laughing at the opponent. What reminds me most of that is when I play on a grass field and fans jump up, amazed by the play I create." He admitted he doesn't shy away from being a star; he even enjoys it.

Beyond his football prowess, Yamal recognizes his impact on rekindling fan passion. Bernardo, a member of his team, told him that whenever Yamal plays, he rediscovers his passion for the sport. "Many people tell me they watch football again because of me," Yamal shared. "My mother watches all the matches, whereas before she only watched occasionally. Many older people tell me on the street that they now watch games again... There was a time when many young people no longer wore football boots to school or football jerseys, which used to be common. Now, those things are becoming trendy again. Or tourists wearing the number 10 Barca jersey. This is coming back and makes me realize my role."

To those who suggest his life is moving too fast and he should slow down, Yamal offers a clear response. "I would say, for example, if you have a job and are offered to become a boss, what would you say? Would you say 'Yes' or 'No' that you're going too fast? That's my answer."

Ultimately, Yamal wants children to see him as an authentic person. "I think in football, very few people are sincere," he concluded. "I want children to see me as a sincere person, who says what he thinks, not what people want to hear. Someone who cares about family and loved ones, things that are very important to me. Someone who knows how to enjoy life, because once you have this life, try to enjoy it to the fullest. I don't care what others say. Appreciate what you have and let people see you straightforwardly, consistently." His greatest happiness, he affirmed, is "playing football, no doubt. It's what helps me forget everything."

Hoang Thong (according to CBS)