Lamine Yamal is 18 years old and already carrying the weight of Spanish football on his shoulders. That’s a lot for someone who still can’t legally rent a car in most states.
After Spain’s frustrating 0-0 draw with Cabo Verde in their World Cup opener, the hype machine around Yamal kicked into overdrive. Some fans and media outlets started tossing around comparisons to Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. But Spain coach Luis de la Fuente shut that down fast.
“It’s a mistake to compare him with Messi or Maradona,” de la Fuente told reporters Saturday, per ESPN. “He’s 18 and in a process of development and maturation. We have to let him follow his path.”
De la Fuente didn’t stop there. He compared Yamal’s talent to geniuses in other fields, calling players like him “unique” and comparing them to Salvador Dali or Michelangelo. Which is a lot of pressure for a teenager who played only 20 minutes off the bench in the opener and didn’t manage a single shot on target.
Yamal himself seems confident. According to football insider Fabrizio Romano, the Barcelona winger promised on Spanish TV that Spain would show their true identity in their next match and predicted the team would make it all the way to the July 19 final. Bold words for a squad that couldn’t score against Cabo Verde.
But there’s a reason for caution. Yamal admitted he’s not ready for a full 90 minutes yet, still working back from a muscular injury he picked up in April. De la Fuente hasn’t decided whether to start him against Saudi Arabia in Atlanta or bring him off the bench again.
The Spanish press has been harsh after the draw. But de la Fuente insists there’s no panic in the locker room. If anything, he says the criticism has motivated the team. They’re eager to prove they’re better than that performance.
“There’s a sense of unity here,” he said. “We’re not panicking. We know what we need to do.”
Saudi Arabia won’t be an easy test. They’re organized, physical, and happy to sit deep and frustrate teams. Spain needs to find a goal, and fast. Whether that means leaning on Yamal or protecting him from the weight of those comparisons is a decision de la Fuente will have to make carefully.
Because right now, the only thing worse than being compared to Messi is being expected to play like him before you’re ready.
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