Lamine Yamal has garnered significant attention following his exceptional performance at the 2024 UEFA Euro. At just 17 years old, Yamal has captivated the global soccer community, drawing numerous comparisons to established stars. The latest parallel is with a star who similarly made waves upon joining FC Barcelona, and is none other than Neymar Jr. Yes, the Samba magician!

Neymar recently admired the young Barcelona sensation after Spain’s victory in the Euro tournament. While these comparisons have sparked widespread interest, they have elicited mixed reactions from fans for various reasons. Let us survey this situation closely.

Fans shut down Lamine Yamal and Neymar comparison

Lamine Yamal recently shared a photograph of himself with the Euro trophy, eliciting an unexpected response from Neymar. The Brazilian star applauded the Spanish prodigy via the clapping emoji in the comments section. In another post, observers noted striking similarities between the Spanish star’s appearance during Spain’s victory parade and that of the Al Hilal star in previous years.

However, given Neymar’s controversial departure from Barcelona to PSG, many fans reacted negatively to these comparisons. One fan dismissed the parallel outright by commenting: “Bro stop its you’re embarrassing me.” Another fan, referencing the 32-year-old’s exit from Barcelona, remarked: “Hopefully just the look, not the mindset.”

Sharing this sentiment, another implored Lamine Yamal: “Please don’t be like Neymar.” A different user urged restraint with a simple plea: “Stop comparing him to Neymar chill.” Further echoing these feelings was a user who emphasized individuality by writing: “Let’s let him have his own identity.”

Many supporters criticized these comparisons as excessive and characterized them as “glazing.” The consensus among Barcelona fans is clear—they are largely disinterested in likening their emerging talent to Neymar. However, considering Lamine Yamal idolizes the Brazilian forward, he is perhaps less troubled by such comparisons than his critics might be.

Yamal names his biggest idols

Given Lamine Yamal’s remarkable career trajectory, fans are often curious about the individuals who influenced him during his formative years. Recently, the forward disclosed the two icons who have significantly shaped his career. It is widely known that the teen holds Lionel Messi in high regard, having previously stated, “I have always said that Messi is the best player in history for me.”

However, he also looks up to another star athlete—Neymar. Lamine Yamal elaborated: “But the one I liked to watch was Neymar.”

He, further, clarified, “I have two football icons: Messi and Neymar. Neymar because of his amazing style, I enjoyed watching him. Messi because he’s the best player in history.” It is evident that Yamal has drawn inspiration from some of soccer’s greatest legends. As his career progresses, it will be intriguing to see if he can emulate their success too.

What are your thoughts on this? Let us know in the comments.