Salgado, who spent a decade at the Bernabeu, pointed toward the shared upbringing of both players at Barcelona’s famed academy as a key factor in their rapid ascent. He noted that while Messi arrived as a child from Argentina, Yamal has been immersed in the Blaugrana culture for even longer, allowing him to handle the pressure of elite football at just 18 years of age. This maturity has already translated into silverware, with Yamal winning three La Liga titles, Euro 2024 with Spain, and finishing as the runner-up for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
“Messi arrived at 12 and Lamine even earlier,” Salgado reflected. “They have grown up in that Barcelona football environment, which is special. At 17 years old, what Lamine has achieved is crazy. It is true that he is missing the Champions League, but he has plenty of time to win it. He has already been able to win the European Championship and be one of the important players within it, something that is not easy.”
