Lamine Yamal humbled to copy Lionel Messi and Neymar and provide inspiration to children

Lamine Yamal is humbled to be following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Neymar and inspiring children in their love of football.

The 17-year-old is still in the early stages of his career but, having emerged on the global stage after helping Spain win Euro 2024 last summer, he has continued his remarkable upward trajectory with Barcelona this season.

Yamal has scored 14 goals and added 22 assists with Hansi Flick’s side still chasing silverware on three fronts.

🏆 Lamine Yamal is the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Year#Laureus25 pic.twitter.com/IvBkTEgvXl

— Laureus (@LaureusSport) April 21, 2025

Busy week ahead for Yamal and Barcelona

They are seven points clear at the top of La Liga, although Real Madrid could cut the gap to four tonight, while they face Carlo Ancelotti’s men in the Copa del Rey final on Saturday, four days before they meet Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.

Yamal grew up 30 kilometres north of Barcelona and admits he finds it incredible that children are now wearing shirts with his name on the back.

He told ESPN: “When I was a kid, I wore Neymar’s shirts, Messi’s jerseys, all these players, so seeing kids wearing my shirt means that I’m their inspiration, at least in football.

“It’s something I never thought would happen so fast: [seeing] those 13-year-old kids in the shirt of a kid who’s only four years older than them. It is amazing.

“My mum always tells me to think about [the significance]; that it doesn’t happen to just anyone, going somewhere and seeing a kid wearing your shirt. It is something that makes me very happy and is one of the things I like the most.”

Yamal’s parents keep him grounded

Yamal’s profile has skyrocketed over the past two years and he admits to relying on his parents to keep him grounded despite the obvious temptations.

He added: “My parents were my references in everything. Everybody always tells me that I have a bit of my mum and a bit of my dad. I think that on the pitch I have a lot of my father and off the pitch I have a lot of my mother.

“They are two people I have grown up with and they have taught me everything. They have fought for me. The affection my father has for me is unimaginable. Thanks to him I have learned the love that one has for the family, because he is a person that gives a lot of love to people.

“So I believe that everything I have and that I will have is thanks to them. I always say I will never be able to thank them fully, but I will try.”