Yamal is a better player than Messi at 17, and will still be only 19 on the eve of the 2026 World Cup semi-finals. Read more at straitstimes.com. Read more at straitstimes.com.

Yamal need only look around the Barcelona locker room to be reminded of the pitfalls of too much, too young. Pedri’s first season saw him start 57 games and in a period of 298 days, he played 63 times, averaging a game every four days. A hamstring injury that ruled him out for 100 days came as little surprise.

Arsenal winger Bukayo Saka was full of praise for Barcelona counterpart Lamine Yamal after his remarkable season.