"They're somewhat more clever" – Lamine Yamal reveals quality of Lionel Messi that he studied as a kid instead of dribbling

Barcelona attacker Lamine Yamal has claimed that he used to try to learn from ex-Blaugrana star and Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi's passing acumen during his childhood.

Over the past couple of years, Yamal has shot to prominence following his exploits with Barcelona and Spain, helping the latter win the UEFA Euro 2024. Owing to his technical left foot, he has been likened to Messi by fans and pundits alike.

During a recent interaction on CBS' '60 Minutes' segment, the 18-year-old opened up on his past and insisted that Messi is the best footballer of all time. He also said he used to study the Argentine's passes, stating (h/t Barca Universal):

"As a kid, I used to study Messi's passes. Other players made good passes, but Messi's passes were pretty much goals. I always thought passing was more interesting than dribbling. They're somewhat more clever."

So far in his career, Yamal has established himself as a right-sided wide playmaker who has an affinity for chance creation. Evidently, he has laid out more assists, 43, than bagged goals, 32, for the Blaugrana's senior team, making 120 appearances in all competitions.

Lamine Yamal opines on his aim in football

When asked about his expectations in his footballing career, Barcelona superstar Lamine Yamal responded on CBS' '60 Minutes' (h/t Barca Universal):

"I don't have any expectations. I just think about playing, not setting expectations. I think expectations are ultimately bad; when you meet them, you might feel like there are no goals left, and when you don't meet them, you might feel frustrated. Playing football is the only thing that makes me forget everything else."

Opening up more about his worldview, the 2025 Ballon d'Or runner-up said:

"My goal isn't to break all records, to score a million goals, to play a million matches. I'm an athlete who wants to enjoy himself. I hope kids want to be like me. In the end, the goal is for people to enjoy and deliver a bit of a show in football. I would like to change people's day. If someone is sad and watches my match, I want their mood to improve."

Since making his professional debut in 2023, Yamal has won a plethora of trophies and awards. He has helped Barcelona lift two La Liga titles and one Copa del Rey, winning the Golden Boy and UEFA Euro Young Player of the Tournament honours in 2024.