Ex-La Masia coach names one quality Lamine Yamal ‘needs’ to emulate Lionel Messi

“One of Messi’s great strengths, one of the many strengths that he had, was that he knew how to run the team,” former La Masia coach Oscar Lopez has told Sky Sports.

“He knew how to make the team play, from a midfield position, or from that position on the right wing, cutting inside. He knew when it was necessary for him to lead the team, when to accelerate the play, and when he had to say: ‘Hey, the team are not playing well today, but I am here, so I am going to decide this game, I am going to break it open.’

“That is what I think Lamine still needs a little bit. But, over time, he is going to get it,” the 44-year-old concluded.

Well, it would be odd to expect one to be a team leader at 17 years of age – Leo Messi himself was far from that at the time. Still, there have been plenty of games in which Lamine Yamal was Barca’s or Spain’s standout player which is a good sign.

The teenager clearly has all what it takes to become one of the best players of all time.