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Lamine Yamal snubs Lionel Messi for Neymar as Barcelona wonderkid explains why Brazilian 'legend' is his main idol

<p>Yamal joined La Masia at the age of six in 2014 and in his very first year at Barceona's youth setup, saw the club win the Champions League, with their much-famed 'MSN' trio of Messi, Neymar and Luis Suarez spearheading the attack. It was also the last time the Catalan giants won the famous European trophy.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>The teenage sensation, who is now an integral part of Hansi Flick's team, has revealed that he idolised Brazil icon Neymar as a child and admitted that he was gobsmacked when he met his hero in person years ago. Despite being <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/why-lamine-yamal-comparisons-lionel-messi-annoying-ex-barcelona-star-teenage-wonderkid-backed-legend/blt17c9901395f69250" target="_blank">regularly compared with Messi</a>, Yamal also admitted that Neymar has always been his favourite.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>In a chat with <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/08/sport/lamine-yamal-barcelona-future-spt-intl/index.html" target="_blank"><em>CNN Sport</em></a>, the Spain international said: "I was five years old when I saw him at Santos, but seven years old when I saw him in person at FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou. It was incredible to see him. Yes, it’s true that (Lionel) Messi was there who was also incredible, but he was something totally different. Neymar has always been my idol. He’s a star, a football legend."</p>

WHAT LAMINE YAMAL SAID

<p>Yamal, <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/barcelona-sweating-lamine-yamal-ankle-injury-wonderkid-eventually-forced-off-defeat-leganes/blt094c94e8cc0c8ed2" target="_blank">who went off injured in his side's match against Leganes in December</a>, is on his way <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/lamine-yamal-hansi-flick-confirms-injured-winger-expected-back-barcelona-supercopa-de-espana/blt0a477ac5b0e63fd5#csd96a56370d30d1f5" target="_blank">back from the injury</a> and is expected to be a part of Barcelona's matchday squad for their upcoming Spanish Super Cup semi-final against Athletic Club on Wednesday in Saudi Arabia.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR LAMINE YAMAL?

Lamine Yamal snubs Lionel Messi for Neymar as Barcelona wonderkid explains why Brazilian 'legend' is his main idol | Goal.com

Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal has revealed why Neymar was his idol when he was growing up rather than Lionel Messi.