Lamine Yamal is humbled to be following within the footsteps of Lionel Messi and Neymar and provoking kids of their love of soccer.
The 17-year-old continues to be within the early phases of his profession however, having emerged on the worldwide stage after serving to Spain win Euro 2024 final summer time, he has continued his outstanding upward trajectory with Barcelona this season.
Yamal has scored 14 targets and added 22 assists with Hansi Flick’s aspect nonetheless chasing silverware on three fronts.
🏆 Lamine Yamal is the Laureus World Breakthrough of the Yr#Laureus25 pic.twitter.com/IvBkTEgvXl
— Laureus (@LaureusSport) April 21, 2025
Busy week forward for Yamal and Barcelona
They’re seven factors clear on the high of La Liga, although Real Madrid could cut the gap to four tonight, whereas they face Carlo Ancelotti’s males within the Copa del Rey last on Saturday, 4 days earlier than they meet Inter Milan within the first leg of their Champions League semi-final.
Yamal grew up 30 kilometres north of Barcelona and admits he finds it unimaginable that kids at the moment are sporting shirts together with his identify on the again.
He advised ESPN: “Once I was a child, I wore Neymar’s shirts, Messi’s jerseys, all these gamers, so seeing children sporting my shirt signifies that I’m their inspiration, at the least in soccer.
“It’s one thing I by no means thought would occur so quick: [seeing] these 13-year-old children within the shirt of a child who’s solely 4 years older than them. It’s wonderful.
“My mum at all times tells me to consider [the significance]; that it doesn’t occur to simply anybody, going someplace and seeing a child sporting your shirt. It’s one thing that makes me very blissful and is likely one of the issues I like probably the most.”
Yamal’s mother and father maintain him grounded
Yamal’s profile has skyrocketed over the previous two years and he admits to counting on his mother and father to maintain him grounded regardless of the plain temptations.
He added: “My mother and father had been my references in every thing. All people at all times tells me that I’ve a little bit of my mum and a little bit of my dad. I believe that on the pitch I’ve loads of my father and off the pitch I’ve loads of my mom.
“They’re two individuals I’ve grown up with and so they have taught me every thing. They’ve fought for me. The love my father has for me is unimaginable. Due to him I’ve discovered the love that one has for the household, as a result of he’s an individual that provides loads of like to individuals.
“So I consider that every thing I’ve and that I’ll have is because of them. I at all times say I’ll by no means have the ability to thank them absolutely, however I’ll strive.”
