Since his explosion at Euro 2024, Lamine Yamal has become one of the most high-profile athletes on the planet. His meteoric rise to stardom, however, has not changed his way of seeing and understanding football. Nor his mentality, beyond the pressure of being the main figure of FC Barcelona.
In an interview for CBS News' '60 Minutes' program, the blaugrana '10' made it clear that he prefers **not to focus on specific expectations**. Nor on the pressure on and off the field, as for him football is fun and passion: his goal is always to win and entertain the public.
"The pressure is what each person puts on themselves. Like expectations. There are people who have expectations and I don't have any. Expectations are bad. When you meet them, you're left without goals, and when you don't meet them, you can fall apart. I have the confidence in myself that I can achieve whatever I want," said the Mataró native.
"Pressure is something mental. It's something everyone has inside. I've never felt it and I don't know if I ever will. I don't have that feeling inside. I never have"
Lamine Yamal defines his playing style
Regarding his playing style, Lamine defines himself as "fun," as he always tries to enjoy himself on the field. Likewise, he is clear that football goes far beyond records and statistics"I am an athlete who entertains and whose objective is not to break all the world records, score a million goals, or make a million dribbles. I want to enjoy myself and for children to want to be like me. Obviously, if I score many goals, even better, but I believe football goes beyond that," argued the Spanish international.
Similarly, he warns that his game involves always facing opponents, trusting in his talent. "I would be a different player if I passed every time I saw two or three opponents in front of me. I think about resolving it as best as possible and, within that spectacle, doing the best for the team," Yamal explained.
- Discover more records, statistics, and curiosities in our Lamine Yamal Data Center, a unique space to follow the evolution of Barcelona's star
Comparisons with Leo Messi
On the other hand, Lamine Yamal was asked about the inevitable comparisons with Leo Messi. The Catalan forward does not hesitate to refer to 'La Pulga' as the best footballer in history, as well as expressing his total respect and admiration for him. However, he wants to forge his own path, and both he and Leo himself understand this.
"We both also know that I don't want to be Messi and Messi knows that I don't want to be him, I want to follow my own path. I have no intention of playing like him, nor of wearing the number 10 that Messi wore, or anything like that," the new Barça '10' detailed.
"Football is the first love of my life and always will be. My friends, my father, my mother, I are in love with football. It is everything in my life. It will always be with me"
The World Cup and other objectives
In addition to the desire to win the Champions League with Barça, Lamine also expressed the excitement he feels about playing his first World Cup with Spain. After fulfilling the dream of lifting the Euro 2024, the Rocafonda native has no doubts about Spain's chances of winning their second World Cup
"I see the country excited, I am very excited and I believe the World Cup could not have arrived at a better time. I feel important, I feel good and I am very eager for it to start. I am going to enjoy it immensely. We will win it," concluded the Barça forward.
In that regard, he recalled that, beyond the affection he feels for **Morocco**, he never had doubts about the possibility of playing with Spain. Yamal grew up in Barcelona and feels fully identified with the country, its people, and his neighborhood"I've always wanted to play in a European Championship and I think European football is watched more; I grew up in Spain and I also feel it's my country," added the 18-year-old player.
"My favorite goals?: The one I scored against France in the Euros. I also really liked the one I scored against Bruges"
Lamine's Mentality for Dealing with Stardom
Regarding his rapid rise to global football stardom, Lamine was blunt in admitting that he enjoys being a star. Although this means he will never be a normal young person, his mindset allows him to handle everything that comes with being such a media figure."My personality has helped me survive. When I'm at my worst, I think about the good things. That helps me not to get down almost ever. That's the most important thing in football. I've never gone to bed feeling down or sad," the Barça 'star' pointed out
"If you have a job and they tell you you want to be the boss, what would you say? Yes or no, am I going too fast? Well, there's my answer"