Yamal: ‘Messi’s picture was not public to limit pressure’

Spain young superstar Lamine Yamal has shared that the viral photos of him as a baby with Leo Messi were kept hidden until now because the comparisons with the Catalan’s club legend would not have helped him.

Photographs of Leo in 2007 bathing 6-month-old Lamine alongside the youngster’s mother, Sheila Ebana, surfaced a few days ago and became viral around the globe.

The photos were part of a series of photographs taken for a charity calendar organized by the Catalan newspaper Diario Sport.

“Without a doubt, in the moment the photographs were taken I wasn’t conscious of what was going only half an year old,” Yamal shared today with the media.

“My dad had the pictures saved, and they never came out. Basically, it was because we didn’t want people comparing me with Lionel.”

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Yamal added that no 1 would be annoyed to be compared with the best to ever play football, but that brings a lot of pressure because you can’t fill his shoes.

🚨🗣️ – Lamine Yamal to @gerardromero: "I don't think anyone would be bothered to be compared to Lionel Messi, the greatest player in football history. But these comparisons reduce your value as you will never be like him." pic.twitter.com/GIAq0cOyp1

— 𝐀𝐅𝐂 𝐀𝐉𝐀𝐗 💎 (@TheEuropeanLad) July 12, 2024