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Former Real Madrid and Spain defender Michel Salgado has praised Lamine Yamal for possessing a unique technical brilliance reminiscent of Lionel Messi. Although Yamal’s professional journey has only just begun, Salgado believes the Barcelona youngster already displays the same fearlessness that once defined the Argentine legend.

Drawing parallels with one of football’s greatest icons, Salgado spoke to Mundo Deportivo ahead of the World Cup opener in Mexico City. He expressed excitement about Spain’s emerging star, noting that La Roja, placed in Group H with Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay, will start their campaign against Cape Verde on June 15. While conceding that Messi remains unmatched, the former defender said the resemblances between the two La Masia graduates are now undeniable.

“We are very eager to see which version of Lamine will appear in this World Cup. It’s going to be spectacular,” Salgado said. “Messi is a player from another galaxy, but it’s true that there are similarities. Lamine is one of those players fans love to watch. There aren’t many with that kind of confidence in one-on-one situations. And I wouldn’t limit it to one-on-one — he can take on two or even three defenders. That’s something Messi had.”

Reflecting on the influence of Barcelona’s famed academy, Salgado, who spent ten years at the Santiago Bernabéu, highlighted the shared development environment of both players. He pointed out that while Messi arrived from Argentina as a child, Yamal has been immersed in the Blaugrana philosophy from an even younger age, helping him cope with the pressures of top-flight football at just 18. This composure has already yielded trophies — three La Liga titles, a Euro 2024 triumph with Spain, and a second-place finish in the 2025 Ballon d’Or race.

“Messi joined at 12, and Lamine even earlier,” Salgado noted. “They’ve both grown within that Barcelona football culture, which is unique. What Lamine has achieved by 17 is astonishing. Of course, he hasn’t yet won the Champions League, but there’s plenty of time for that. He’s already managed to lift the European Championship and play a key role in it, which is no small feat.”

Having faced Messi numerous times, Salgado does not make the comparison lightly. The ex-defender recalled how Real Madrid’s dressing room immediately recognised Messi’s extraordinary potential during an early Clasico encounter, when the teenage Argentine scored a hat-trick. Messi would later go on to become the fixture’s all-time leading scorer with 26 goals.

“I was fortunate to witness his rise from the very beginning,” Salgado explained. “We talked about it in the Madrid dressing room right after that first Clasico, when he scored three goals against us. That’s when we realised he was different — one of the greats. And by greats, I mean players like Maradona, Pele — those who define eras and stand above everyone else.”

Despite the widespread admiration, Salgado also expressed concern about Yamal’s physical load. The winger has been heavily involved for both club and country over the past year, and questions remain about how he will handle the physical demands of a World Cup following a recent injury sustained in late April that has kept him sidelined since.

“Lamine has been pushed hard all season — in the Champions League, the league, and other competitions,” Salgado said. “It’s difficult to ask a young player to hold back. First, because he’s still so young; second, because he wants to win everything; and third, because it’s a World Cup year. Managing that intensity is not easy.”

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