Spain's Yamal not interested in Messi comparison

Spain sensation Lamine Yamal does not want to be compared to Argentina star Lionel Messi as he approaches his biggest match to date in Sunday's Euro 2024 final against England.

"I try to be Lamine. At the end of the day, it doesn't help you to compare yourself to the best player in history because nobody will ever be like him," Yamal told Saturday's edition of Spanish sports paper Marca.

"I try to be myself so that people recognise me as Lamine Yamal. That's all."

Barcelona's Yamal turned 17 on Saturday and has been one of the stars at Euro 2024. He has been compared to Messi whose career also started at very young age.

During the Euros a photo surfaced, showing him as a baby together with of a young Messi, which further fuelled comparisons.

Yamal told Jijantes on Friday the photos were originally not released by his family to avoid such comparisons.

Yamal became the youngest ever scorer at a Euro tournament in Tuesday's semi-final against France, and also has three assists.

He revealed that France superstar Kylian Mbappé even asked for his shirt post-match: "If Mbappe asks for me for it then he gets it. No problem."

Looking ahead at his biggest career game on Sunday in Berlin, he spoke of "a dream final, especially against England.

"Everybody wants to play matches like that. Now we only want the cup to end up in Spai," he said.