Stunning stats and 'Ronaldo behaviour' - is Yamal cut out to rival Messi?
- Published6 May 2025
- Updated 14 minutes ago
BBC Sport senior journalist
There are portraits that precede greatness, snapshots of youthful genius. The boy with the indie-band bangs celebrating on Ronaldinho's back. The bleach-blonde teen with blaugrana braces leaving a trail of Inter defenders in his wake.
Almost exactly 20 years separated Lionel Messi's first goal for Barcelona and Lamine Yamal's sensational Champions League semi-final strike on his 100th appearance for the Catalan giants last month.