Bayern Munich talent Lennart Karl makes feelings clear after comparisons with ‘idol’ Lionel Messi

Bayern Munich youngster Lennart Karl has dismissed being compared to Lionel Messi. He believes that the Argentine superstar is one of the best in the game, and he is far from reaching that level.

Karl has been one of the revelations in the Bundesliga this season. Promoted to the senior team by manager Vincent Kompany at the start of the current campaign, the 17-year-old has impressed beyond expectations, becoming a regular for the Bavarian club.

Karl's immense potential and talent have drawn him comparisons to club legends Arjen Robben, Franck Ribery, and even Messi. The Germany U-21 star showed his quality once more, collecting a goal and an assist as Kompany's side secured a 6-2 comeback win at home against Freiburg on Saturday, November 22.

Notably, he became the youngest player in Bayern’s history to score and assist in a single Bundesliga game.

Following another impressive outing, Karl was questioned about being compared to the legend, Lionel Messi, during a post-match interview with Sky. He downplayed the claims and named the Inter Miami star his idol, saying (as quoted by @iMiaSanMia on X):

“Other people said that. I can’t compare myself to Messi. Messi is right at the top and there’s a long way to go to reach that. He’s my idol.”

Karl has featured in nine of Bayern's 11 league matches this term, contributing two goals and two assists. Overall, he has recorded three goals and as many assists in 14 matches across competitions.

"We’d say: ‘Alright guys, only God can help us now!" - former La Liga defender opens up on facing Lionel Messi

Former Valencia defender Eliaquim Mangala has revealed that he and his teammates would pray before facing Lionel Messi. The Frenchman described the Argentine language as a unique player who made others better.

Mangala made this assertion during an appearance on the French podcast Rothensenflamme. When asked to pick between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in the GOAT debate, the former defender said about the Argentine:

"When we played against Messi, we’d say: ‘Alright guys, only God can help us now!’ Messi was unplayable and made everyone else shine."

Mangala declined to pick a side in the GOAT debate. Instead, he also lauded Ronaldo and hailed both players' longevity.

"I was a fan of Ronaldo at Manchester United, and since then his game has evolved. That doesn’t mean he doesn’t deserve the GOAT title, because he’s an example for all young players," he said.

"For me, this debate about who is the GOAT, we just need to say that we were lucky to have had 2 players of very high level over a very long period," Mangala concluded.

Mangala faced Lionel Messi twice in La Liga with Valencia and once in the French Ligue 1 with Saint-Etienne while the Argentine was on the books of Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). He lost all three encounters with Messi, with the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner also recording four goals in the process.