Sport
Laporta Says Lamine Yamal Is Different from Messi and Shouldn’t Be Compared
Barcelona president Joan Laporta has spoken up about the ongoing comparisons between rising star Lamine Yamal and club legend Lionel Messi. In an interview with CNN, Laporta urged fans and pundits to ease up on the pressure being placed on the young forward.
He made it clear that while both players are incredibly talented, they are completely different individuals with their own unique styles. “Lamine Yamal is Lamine Yamal, and Leo Messi was Leo Messi,” Laporta said. “Messi was the greatest player in the world, and right now, in Yamal’s position, I believe he’s the best.”
Yamal recently signed a long-term contract that will keep him at Camp Nou until 2031. As part of this new chapter, he has been given the iconic number 10 shirt, the same number Messi wore during his legendary run at Barcelona. Though the number carries weight, Laporta believes Yamal should be allowed to grow into his own name rather than live in someone else’s shadow.
Former footballer Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on Arsenal’s match following their loss to Atlético Madrid on October 13.
Speaking during a brief interview on CBS Sports, Henry criticised the practice of players or coaches expressing certain opinions through the media instead of addressing issues directly within the dressing room.
“I’m not a coach anymore, but I always say, whoever speaks like that, out. Keep that in the dressing room, it’s as simple as that,” Henry said on CBS Sports.
“That is the only way it can work. You have to say those things to a person’s face… going through the press, I am not really a fan of that.”
Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has shared his thoughts on the 2026 Ballon d’Or award, revealing that he hopes the winner will come from his team.
The manager spoke about how hard his players have worked and expressed his belief that they deserve the recognition.
“What I hope is that we win this trophy. We have players who deserve it.”
“Last year, we were the best team. We showed that it wasn’t just Ousmane Dembélé who deserved it.”
French football pundit Walid Acherchour has named Lamine Yamal as his pick to win the 2026 Ballon d’Or, sparking reactions among football fans.
Acherchour’s choice came as a surprise to some fans, who expected him to support fellow Frenchman Kylian Mbappé instead.
Speaking about his prediction, Acherchour expressed confidence in Yamal’s chances of winning the prestigious individual award.
“For me, Lamine Yamal, he is going to get it [2026 Ballon d’Or]. For me, there’s no doubt anymore,” Acherchour said, as quoted by Actu Foot. That start to the season shows that in fact, he was injured during the World Cup. He was the best player in La Liga, and he won the World Cup.
“Even if, for me, in fact, he doesn’t have the Ballon d’Or unanimously because his World Cup was average, even being average, he won it with Spain. He won La Liga with Barça.”
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