“Greatest player in Spain’s history” - Ex-Real Madrid star backs Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal to ‘make history’ like Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi 

AC Milan striker Alvaro Morata has backed Lamine Yamal to emulate Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The Spanish national team captain believes that the Barcelona youngster will become one of the greatest players in Spain's history.

Speaking to The Athletic, Morata claimed that players like Yamal come around once in 20-30 years and he has already shown his qualities on the pitch. He believes that the teenager will get better and said:

"He's got a very determined character. That's hard to find in a person his age (17). He's got a very clear idea about what he wants to do. He's got a lot of personality and has everything in front of him. Honestly I've never seen anything like it. I've never seen a player like it. One training session was enough to realise he's different, that he's one of the fenomeni."

Morata heaped praise on Yamal's performances in the 2024 European Championships where the 17-year-old bagged the Best Young Player award. He added:

"Every 20 or 30 years one or two emerge like Cristiano and Messi. For me, he's got everything it takes to make history. I'm convinced that if he doesn't become the greatest player in Spain's history, he'll definitely be one of them. He already made history with us by winning the Euro. He was 16 when the tournament started and I hope he keeps this up because he's my team-mate, because he can make me win more things with the national team and because my kids want to meet him, get to know him, go watch the games and all that."

Lamine Yamal finished eighth in the Ballon d'Or rankings this year, while Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi did not make the top 30. The Barcelona star was a crucial part of Spain's EURO 2024 campaign, scoring one goal and providing four assists.

Lamine Yamal dismisses comparisons with Lionel Messi

Fans, pundits, and players around the world have started comparing Lamine Yamal with Lionel Messi, but the Barcelona star is not paying attention to it. He has claimed that the most important thing for him is to focus on himself and not get it into his head.

Yamal told France Football (via French Football Weekly):

"I try not to think too much about comparisons, to always be myself. As I tell my friends, for me, the most important thing is to leave my mark on football, to have a great career. Afterwards, I tell myself that if I am compared to the best player in history, it is because I am doing things correctly. It does not bother me, but I focus on myself."

Lionel Messi has also reportedly praised Lamine Yamal in a private exchange. Reports in SPORT claimed that the Inter Miami star was in awe of the Barcelona youngster earlier this year.