Mundo Deportivo: 10 key differences between Messi and Yamal, the former started later

Comparisons between Messi and Yamal are inevitable, but their paths to the same final are quite different.

1. The World Cup arrives at a completely different time.

This is Messi's last World Cup; it's Yamal's first. For the former, it might be a perfect ending; for the latter, it's just the beginning of a long career. If he stays healthy, he could play in three or four more World Cups. Messi is his role model.

2. Yamal started earlier than Messi.

Although Messi made his debut at 17, Yamal's pace was much faster—he became a regular starter for Barcelona at 16, won the European Championship as a key player at 17, and reached the World Cup final at 19. Messi didn't make his Copa America debut until he was 20, while Yamal, at the same age, had already proven himself in major international tournaments.

3. Messi once left his home country, while Yamal was born in his native land.

Messi left Rosario for Barcelona at the age of 13 to pursue his dream, crossing continents and changing his life. Yamal was born in Catalonia, grew up in Mataro, and developed his entire football career within the Barcelona system.

4. Media pressure

Messi was relatively protected during his time at Barcelona and with the national team, as there were no social media platforms and the ubiquitous, constant exposure we see today. Yamal, on the other hand, has lived under an infinitely magnified spotlight since he was 16, with every match, every action, and every word being analyzed in real time.

5. Messi inherited a championship-winning Barcelona, while Yamal took on the responsibility of rebuilding.

When Messi made his debut, the team also included Ronaldinho, Eto'o, Deco, Xavi, Puyol, and others. He became one of the youngest players to win the 2006 Champions League title in Paris. Although Rijkaard later became complacent, the foundation had already been laid. Meanwhile, Yamal, in the rebuilding Barcelona, took on responsibilities from a young age and quickly became the attacking focal point.

6. The paths to the national team are completely different.

It took Messi years to win the unanimous love of the Argentine people, and he was constantly criticized for the national team's performance being inferior to that of Barcelona (he won four Champions League titles with Barcelona, but Argentina repeatedly fell short). Yamal, on the other hand, gained consensus almost from his debut for the Spanish national team and became the undisputed leader of the team.

7. Messi needed hormone therapy during his adolescence to develop normally.

Messi needed hormone therapy during his adolescence to develop normally, and the cost was covered by Barcelona; Messi has never forgotten this kindness. La Masia recognized from the beginning that his talent was worth every effort. Yamal, on the other hand, never faced this problem; instead, he was known for his outstanding physical attributes compared to his peers, and of course, he also worked hard to improve.

8. Two different leadership qualities

Messi is the kind of silent and composed leader who doesn't flaunt his abilities or raise his voice, always setting an example through professionalism, dedication, and sacrifice. Yamal, on the other hand, possesses a different personality, being more outgoing, spontaneous, and flamboyant both on and off the field. Both became leaders through their talent, but in vastly different ways.

9. The order in which the championship trophies were won differed.

Messi first won the Champions League and La Liga with Barcelona, and only years later did he lift a major tournament trophy with Argentina (his first Copa America at age 34). Yamal, on the other hand, has already won the European Championship with the Spanish national team (at age 17), his first international title, and his next goal is to win the Champions League with Barcelona.

10. Idols and Jersey Numbers

Messi took Ronaldinho as his role model, inheriting the number 10 jersey from the Brazilian, sharing the locker room, learning from him, and ultimately taking up the mantle of leadership at Barcelona. In contrast, when Yamal was developing, the Barcelona locker room didn't have such a clear idol until he took over the number 10 jersey from Fati.