Lamine Yamal has established himself as a star at just 17
Lamine Yamal has established himself as a star at just 17 / James Gill - Danehouse/GettyImages
Lamine Yamal cited Lionel Messi, Neymar and Ronaldinho as his footballing idols growing up.
The 17-year-old still has plenty of growing to do, but already represents a star of the senior side. Yamal has only been kept out of Hansi Flick's side through injury, invariably starting and producing a moment of magic when fit and available.
The European champion with Spain last summer was raised in Rocafonda, a small Catalan neighbourhood less than an hour's drive up the coast from Barcelona's spiritual home, Camp Nou. A boyhood Blaugrana fan, Yamal joined the club's youth academy at six.
Unsurprisingly, the teen idolised a host of Barcelona icons.
In an exclusive interview with Marca, Yamal revealed his pyramid of influence. "Besides Messi," the forward mused, "Neymar and Ronaldinho. Mainly for his fun style, his way of living the game...always trying something new."
Lamine Yamal won the Golden Boy award this year / Alex Caparros/GettyImages
Raphinha compared his prodigious teammate to Neymar, citing their shared frequency and proficiency when it comes to dribbling. In an interview with L'Equipe earlier this year, Yamal recalled the hours he sunk into YouTube compilations of the Brazilian.
"We would meet after school at a friend's house because he had a computer," Yamal remembered, "...and we would put on videos of Neymar and we would watch all afternoon and then I would sleep at home and I would do that at home in my room."
Ronaldinho shared that joyful manipulation of the ball and honed his skills in the same way as Yamal: namely, wriggling past a dog.
"I played a lot with them because my father told me they wouldn't eat me," the teenager revealed. "So I always played with them and I think playing against a dog is the hardest thing you can do."
Ronaldinho had the same technique, testing himself against his cherished pet Bombom, joking that a few European defenders reminded him of the snapping canine.
Aside from the Brazilian duo, Yamal has been most commonly compared to Lionel Messi - a trend which even the legendary Argentine has joined. However, Yamal admitted that these comparisons "sometimes don't help".
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