Oscar Lopez (right) pictured with Lamine Yamal during their time together at Barca.

There's no exact formula for identifying exceptional soccer players. Sometimes, it's an unbelievable goal; other times, it's a seemingly minor detail, a movement that looks ordinary but changes everything. For Lopez, a former Barca defender who developed alongside Ronaldinho and Messi, and who coached at La Masia until 6/2024, talent reveals itself through attitude: the ability to defy soccer logic.

"With Messi, you saw it when he was 17: he chose options no one else considered, and he was always right. It's the same with Yamal, completely identical," he told SPORT.

Memories of Yamal

Lopez represents a bridge between two eras at Barca: from playing with legends to guiding the young talents now conquering Camp Nou, most notably Yamal, the 18-year-old aiming to rewrite European soccer's hierarchy.

"At La Masia, we don't just train players. First and foremost, we nurture people," Lopez told El Pais. "Technique is honed through repetition, tactics through thinking. But if a young player lacks emotional balance, the professional soccer world will devour him." Every journey begins with preparing these teenagers to face an environment that can catapult them to greatness or destroy them in an instant.

Lopez vividly recalls his first experience coaching Yamal. "I remember when I coached Yamal; he was promoted to my U19 team," Lopez recounted to Sky Sports. "We were playing away against CE Europa, a club with nearly 120 years of history in Barcelona. I kept him on the bench. The game wasn't going well, and I decided not to put him on. I didn't want him to face the pressure of turning the game around. After the match, Yamal came to me and asked, 'Sir, what did I do wrong?' I told him we'd talk the next day."

They met again the following week. "I told him, 'You're only 15; there's no rush. Be patient. I promise you'll get to play, have fun, and grow gradually.' He nodded and thanked me without a single complaint. Even at that age, Yamal was mature: he wanted to understand to improve himself, not to complain."

Yamal playing for Barca's youth team against AZ Alkmaar on 1/3/2023.

From there, his integration began. Within months, Yamal was playing in the UEFA Youth League against opponents 4-5 years older. The defining moment in his young career came soon after. "It was his fifth or sixth game with us," Lopez continued. "Playing Mallorca at home, we entered the locker room at halftime down 0-2. I spoke to the team and prepared two tactical changes. But before returning to the field, Yamal stopped me: 'Sir, we need to attack more on the right wing. I see a lot of space there.' He was only 15, but he read the game with incredible clarity."

Lopez trusted Yamal's insight. "I took his advice and instructed the team to follow it. 10 minutes later, Yamal provided an assist. 15 minutes after that, he scored two goals. He single-handedly turned the match around. He not only made an impact on the field, but he also wanted to shoulder the responsibility," the 45-year-old coach said.

But even geniuses make mistakes. According to the coach who spent six years at La Masia, Yamal had a typical tactical error when playing as a winger. Lopez recalled, "He should have cut inside when the ball was in the opponent's midfield, but he stayed too wide on the flank. We conceded a dangerous attack. I called him over for the first time and showed him the video. Yamal wasn't fazed. He was always like that: eager to learn, always curious. There was no need to raise my voice."

And there were never any disciplinary issues: "Never late, never punished. Always punctual, always tidy. I never had to reprimand him for any behavior."

In the locker room, Yamal was different from the confident player who fearlessly took on any opponent on the pitch. "Initially, he was quite reserved, and I understood why: he was playing with teammates who were 18, 19, even 20 years old," Lopez told Sky Sports. "For a 15-year-old, integrating into that environment wasn't easy. But that age difference helped him mature quickly. He didn't talk much, but he was very intelligent. He knew how to choose: understanding who could help him improve, who would pass the ball at the right time, who could support his development."

Over time, shyness transformed into personality. "Now, I see Yamal more mature, more confident. But he's still that reserved, careful, and wise kid... in a positive sense. He's not a vocal leader, but through his attitude, he always leads by example on the field. And when his teammates see him striving to improve, they follow suit," emphasized the coach who brought three titles to Barca's U19 team.

For Lopez, Yamal's future is predetermined, with a captaincy and prestigious individual awards on the horizon. "He has the values, the intelligence, and the love for the club. At Barca, the captain's armband isn't chosen through marketing gimmicks, but from within the locker room. His teammates will eventually recognize him as a leader, and I believe, in time, he can become captain. The Ballon d'Or? It's just a matter of time: if not this year, then soon. A little later is better than too early, because the setbacks and failures are necessary to withstand the weight of such a prestigious award."

Memories of Messi

When Messi is mentioned, Lopez's eyes light up. "We grew up at Barca together, we were very close friends," Lopez told El Pais. "After training, we often stayed to play footvolley: me, Ronaldinho, and Leo. With Ronaldinho, I could compete: sometimes he won, sometimes I did. But not with Messi: he always won. I had technique, Ronaldinho was a genius, but no one could beat Messi. He was unbeatable."

Having played with Messi and coached Yamal, witnessing his former student's current journey, Lopez couldn't help but compare them: "Messi has a unique mindset. In soccer, there are situations where 9 out of 10 times you have to react conventionally. But Messi always chooses the 10th way, and he's always right. Yamal is the same: he sees the game with a different logic. When the textbook says 'pass,' he dribbles past opponents. When there's a simple pass available, he looks for unimaginable spaces. These things can't be taught: you can only protect them."

Lopez (left) during his time at Barca. Born in 1980, he came through La Masia and played for the first team from 2003-2006 as a left-back.

However, according to Lopez, to become a true superstar, Yamal needs to take one more step: "He needs to improve his ability to make his teammates play better. It's not just about resolving situations, but about helping the whole team function smoothly."

Looking back, Lopez admits the biggest lesson wasn't what he taught, but what he received. "Experiencing the locker room with Messi and learning from the coaches at Barca helped me immensely when working with Yamal," Oscar said. "I understood that you can't force everything. With such talents, you have to accompany, not restrict: establish a minimal order, then let them be free."

But he also points out the difference between the two eras, a reminder of the dangers that could hinder Yamal's development. "Yamal's only disadvantage compared to Messi is social media. Leo was fortunate to grow up without facing daily attacks online. Today, every skill move is instantly posted, and every mistake becomes a trial. So, the responsibility of coaches has doubled: to protect, shield them, and constantly remind them that the love for the ball is the most important thing, the sole driving force of this sport. If they lose that, they lose everything."

Compiled by Hoang Thong