Barcelona star Lamine Yamal opens up on his football philosophy, Messi meeting and Ballon d'Or plans

Lamine Yamal won the European Championship and the World Cup earlier turning 19. His statistic are scrutinised constantly, his performances debated aft each fixture and the expectations connected him turn with each passing month. None of that, helium insists, is wherefore helium plays football.

Speaking to The Guardian, the Barcelona guardant made wide that his narration with the crippled is built connected thing considerably simpler than numbers. 'I bash not play for money, I play due to the fact that I similar it,' helium said.

Yamal's doctrine connected goals, assists and enjoyment

The 19-year-old went further than a wide connection astir enjoyment. He offered a circumstantial critique of the statistical obsession that has go cardinal to modern shot coverage.

'Players who are obsessed with goals oregon assists bash not bask it,' helium said. 'I play for the fun, to dribble, to play one-touch oregon two-touch, to marque a team-mate who has not scored, score. For the happiness — it is brilliant.'

The reflection cuts against the absorption of the modern game, wherever extremity contributions, expected goals and show metrics person go the superior model done which elite forwards are evaluated. Yamal is alert of that framework. He simply refuses to fto it specify him.

Yamal's post-final speech with Messi

The interrogation besides revealed what Yamal did instantly aft Spain won the 2026 World Cup against Argentina. He sought retired Lionel Messi — his idol since puerility — for a backstage infinitesimal that helium was cautious to contextualise.

'I thanked him for everything helium has fixed to football,' Yamal said. 'I bash not bash things to look bully successful photographs — that came from within.'

The brushwood placed the 2 astir important figures successful Spanish and Argentine shot astatine the aforesaid moment, connected other sides of the aforesaid final. That Yamal went to find Messi alternatively than observe elsewhere says thing astir wherever his priorities sit.

Yamal connected pressure, household and what happens erstwhile helium loses

The World Cup triumph — pursuing truthful rapidly aft Euro 2024 — has created an antithetic dynamic astatine home. Yamal's household person known lone victories. He has won each large tourney helium has entered with the Spain nationalist side, and helium is aged capable to recognise that the signifier whitethorn not last.

'My household was truthful happy. The occupation is they bash not cognize what it is to lose. I spell to the Euros and win. I spell to the World Cup and win. It seems easy. I thought: "When I bash not win, they volition deliberation I americium awful."'

Yamal connected the Ballon d'Or — and wherefore helium expects to triumph it

For each his stated indifference to numbers, Yamal is not without idiosyncratic ambition. He addressed the Ballon d'Or straight successful the interview and did not shy distant from his volition to triumph it.

'It is not conscionable this twelvemonth that I person been astatine a level to triumph it — it has been for a while. Everybody knows, they cognize I americium a subordinate who makes the difference.'

He besides acknowledged the counter-argument that voters mightiness hold rewarding him fixed his age, reasoning that his champion years are inactive ahead.

'I deliberation radical volition think: "Lamine is 19 and volition triumph it astatine immoderate point, truthful fto america take idiosyncratic else." I conscionable person to win, triumph and win.'

His ambition, however, stops abbreviated of arrogance. He was pointed successful his presumption of however occurrence should not beryllium used.

'I volition ne'er say: "Who are you? I won the World Cup." Only anserine radical would bash that.'