Making your debut for FC Barcelona at the age of 15 is no small feat, and Lamine Yamal, who is of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean descent has done it with great aplomb.
The Barca youth sensation made his senior team debut in Barcelona's 4-0 victory over Real Betis, breaking a record previously held by another top youth talent, Gavi, who went on to represent Spain in Qatar 2022 World Cup.
Barcelona coach, Xavi, has come out in full praise of the teenager, saying the way he plays doesn't seem like that of a 15-year-old.
"I told him to try things and he did," he said. "At 15 years old, just imagine it... He is special and he could have even scored tonight, but Rui Silva saved," said Xavi as quoted by SABC Sport. https://www.sabcsport.com/soccer/news/xavi-compares-record-breaking-yamal-to-messi
"He played with confidence and he showed what he is about. He has no fear and bags of talent. Some of his passes in the final third were really good.
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"He's a similar player because he has that innate talent in the final third which is difficult to find.
"Lamine doesn't seem like a 15-year-old, he's very mature. He's ready [to play] and he is training well. He can mark an era at this club as part of this team."