Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has lauded Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal but firmly dismissed comparisons to Lionel Messi, stating for him ‘there will never be anyone in the world like the Argentine.’
🚨🗣️ Pep Guardiola on Lamine Yamal:
— FC Barcelona Fans Nation (@fcbfn_live) June 6, 2025
"We're very lucky at Barça to have found a boy with such vision. But I won’t compare him to Leo. There will never, ever be another Messi. Not in Barcelona. Not in football. It’s simply impossible." 🐐💙❤️
— DAZNFutbol pic.twitter.com/3hEEG5w1ls
Following another mesmerizing performance from Lamine Yamal for Spain against France, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has offered high praise for the Barcelona star but strongly cautioned against comparing him to Lionel Messi.
In a recent interview with DAZN, Guardiola lauded the young forward’s advanced football intelligence. “His way of understanding the game is truly surprising for his age. We’re very lucky, Barça, aren’t we? To have found another boy with this kind of perspective,” he said.
However, the decorated tactician drew a firm line when it came to likening Yamal to the Argentine icon. “I’m not going to say he’s like Leo, I’m sorry, because for me, there will never be anyone in the world like the Argentine. It’s impossible,” Guardiola stated emphatically.
He elaborated that Yamal possesses a maturity beyond his years, a trait that sets him apart. “This kind of maturity usually comes at 23, 24, or 25… In terms of understanding and the decisions he makes,” he explained, noting young talents don’t need to produce a special play every single time.