Girona Boss Michel Sees ‘Difference-Maker’ Lamine Yamal Reaching the Heights of Lionel Messi

Barcelona’s young teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal was on point in the recent fixture against Girona in the La Liga clash on Sunday. Following his stellar show at the Estadi Montilivi, Girona’s manager, Michel sees the youngster being on track to follow the footsteps of Lionel Messi.

Speaking after the loss, Michel hailed the winger’s performance and sees him as amongst the best players in the world, despite being only 17-years-old.

“Lamine is a difference-maker. For me, he is already one of the best players in the world at 17 years of age. It is difficult to imagine that after Messi another [like him] would come along, but I hope that Lamine keeps improving because he’s a player that can reach that level,” Michel was quoted saying as per Goal. 

Like Messi, Yamal also holds the right-wing position and has been outstanding in the recent months where he played a crucial role in Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign. Now under the new manager, Hansi Flick, the youngster has started off the season on a flying note having picked up three goals and four assists in the five games played in the 2024-25 season.

Despite having the likes of Raphinha at the right-wing position, Flick has opted to use Yamal through the right flank and the Brazillian being adjusted in the left-side to accommodate the Spanish international. But still both men have interchangeably played through the flanks to bring out a revamped Barcelona attack.

The youngster’s brace included a steal off the Girona defender, David Lopez to hit the left-side of the net. This was then followed by another by the edge of the box to mark his brace.

Yamal will be expected to continue his form ahead of Barcelona’s first Champions League fixture for the season where they take on Monaco in their opening game of the newly formatted tournament.

The young gun has been seen to have the potential to be amongst the greats like many other talents coming out of the infamous La Masia academy, but only time will truly tell whether the young winger would possibly match or even surpass that of the legendary Lionel Messi.