Luis Enrique tells Lamine Yamal to be Lamine Yamal, not Lionel Messi

Luis Enrique downplays Messi-Yamal comparisons ahead of Champions League meeting

Former Barcelona and current Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has spoken out about the relentless comparisons between Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal ahead of PSG’s Champions League meeting with Barcelona.

Luis Enrique managed Messi at Barcelona a decade ago, winning the UEFA Champions League together. He was also a former Barcelona player who began his managerial career coaching Barcelona B. He has not managed Yamal, but will face the 18-year-old when PSG play Barcelona in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Asked about the links between the two players, the PSG coach was clear.

“I think what Lamine is doing very well is that he wants to be Lamine Yamal. He is improving various aspects of his game,” he said.

“Comparing Messi — the greatest player of all time — to any other player… no one is going to come out on top against him.

“Lamine wants to be the best version of Lamine, and it’s better not to compare oneself to others. He is very intelligent,” the manager said.

Yamal has resisted the comparison himself

Yamal himself has repeatedly pushed back against being measured against Messi.

Last year, when he was told a goal he scored against Club Brugge was similar to a Messi goal, the youngster said: “I can’t compare myself with Messi. He’s scored thousands of goals like that. I have to make my own way and hope to score many more goals like that. I try to do the best I can.”

A year prior, Yamal said: “He is the greatest player in history, and being compared to him is incredible. There is no one who can be compared to him, least of all me, since I’m just starting out. I only wish I could have half the career he’s had.”

The link between Messi and Yamal dates back to childhood. When the Argentine was a teenage sensation for Barcelona, he bathed a then-unknown baby Yamal for a charity calendar.