In an interview given to The AthleticXavi delivered a huge tribute to Lamine Yamal, he who accompanied the young winger’s first steps at FC Barcelona before offering him his professional debut in 2023. The former Barça coach, who saw the Spanish phenomenon evolve from the age of 15, believes that his former protégé already has extraordinary qualities despite his very young age. “We sometimes forget that he is only 18 years old and we perhaps ask too much of him, but he is so talented! »explains Xavi, before emphasizing his growing influence in important moments: “he is a leader on the pitch who makes the difference at 18 years old, a talent that only Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Pelé and perhaps Ronaldo, have achieved. » For him, Yamal now has all the cards in hand to mark his era: “the next 15 to 20 years are his, if he wants. If he wants them, they are his. »
Xavi also returned to the first time he discovered Lamine Yamal’s talent. “I had heard about him in Barcelona before I even saw him. Everyone was talking about this boy, and the same thing happened to me with Leo (Messi). I was told that there was an Argentinian who played really well, who stood out, etc., and with Lamine, it was practically the same thing that happened to me”he says. The former Barça midfielder does not hesitate to bring the two players together in terms of their mentality: “Lamine knows he is different. It shows when you watch him play and are by his side. Just like Leo knew he was different. » According to him, Spain today has a rare profile capable of changing matches on its own: “We had that at Barça with Messi, now Spain has it with Lamine, and that’s what makes them one of the favorites to win this 2026 World Cup.”
