Messi ignited the flame, but Lamine Yamal is burning even brighter!

Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s young talent, is at risk of burnout from excessive matches for both his club and the Spanish national team, leading to an open dispute between managers Hansi Flick and Luis de la Fuente.

Gary Lineker once said no one would be like Lionel Messi—until Lamine Yamal appeared. “He makes getting past opponents look effortless, as if they’re invisible,” the English legend remarked after the 3-3 draw between Barcelona and Inter in April. However, he also expressed concern: Yamal had played over 100 matches for Barca before turning 18—a figure both impressive and alarming.

Lineker’s worries have now come true. Over the past six months, Yamal’s workload has become a hot topic, reaching a peak in the controversy between coaches Hansi Flick and Luis de la Fuente following the latest injury to the 18-year-old prodigy.

Making his first-team debut for Barcelona at just 15 years and 9 months old, Yamal quickly became a key player in the 2023-2024 season, missing only one La Liga match and playing all 10 Champions League games. His impressive form earned him a call-up to Spain’s Euro 2024 squad, where he won the European title despite having to study for exams in Germany. The more he played, the more Yamal proved his talent beyond his years, raising expectations that he could become Barcelona’s “new Messi.”

However, glory brings pressure. In the 2024-2025 season, Yamal played the first 11 matches for Barca, sitting out only the game lost to Osasuna. After the Nations League fixtures, he suffered an ankle injury and missed four consecutive games. Although he once said “I have learned how to manage myself,” the demanding schedule has clearly drained the young player’s physical strength.

The conflict between the two coaches erupted when Flick accused Spain’s team “of giving Yamal painkillers to play despite his body not feeling right”. He stated: “They were leading by three goals yet allowed him to play over 70 minutes. That’s not how you take care of a player.” De la Fuente later denied this, claiming “those were just manageable pains.”However, Yamal continued to miss matches due to a recurrence of his injury after the PSG game.

According to FIFPRO reports, Yamal has played nearly 2,000 more minutes than Jude Bellingham before turning 18, surpassing every previous Golden Boy winner. Barcelona has suffered before from young talents burning out like Pedri and Ansu Fati, so Flick admitted: “Now, it’s crucial that we—players, clubs, and federations—work together to manage this issue.”

Protecting Lamine Yamal is not only Barcelona’s or Spain’s responsibility but also the key to unlocking his enormous potential. Will Barca have enough patience to preserve this precious gem instead of letting the schedule wear him down like other young talents before him?