A Legend’s Insight: Andres Iniesta on Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal
Spanish football legend Andres Iniesta recently shared his thoughts on his former Barcelona teammate Lionel Messi and the rising star Lamine Yamal. Iniesta, a four-time Champions League winner and 2010 World Cup champion, offered valuable insights into the careers of these two exceptional players.
Messi’s New Chapter
Iniesta believes that Messi has found a new lease on life at Inter Miami. “He is in a project that excites him, a project with an ambition to grow, and he is surrounded by great players,” Iniesta said. Messi’s impressive performance this season, including a hat-trick in the final game, has led Inter Miami to break the Major League Soccer record for most points in a single season.
The Praise of a Legend
Iniesta applauded Messi’s incredible skills, saying, “Leo is football in its purest form… He knows how to interpret everything to perfection.” The Argentina captain has become Inter Miami’s all-time leading scorer with 33 goals since his arrival in 2023.
Yamal: A Rising Star
Iniesta also spoke highly of 17-year-old Lamine Yamal, who has drawn comparisons with Messi. “He is a player that makes a difference, he is special… He scores, he sets up goals, he draws the opponents’ attention,” Iniesta said. Yamal has broken numerous records for club and country since making his Barcelona debut aged 15.
Protecting Young Talent
Iniesta emphasized the need to protect and guide young players like Yamal. “We can’t forget he is 17, and year after year, we need to be alongside him so that the very high level he has shown at 17, he keeps increasing it,” Iniesta said. With over 60 appearances for Barcelona, Yamal played a key role in Spain’s European Championship win this past summer.
The Concerns of Overplaying
Iniesta expressed concerns about the increasing fixture schedule and its impact on top players. “Tournaments have been added, matches have increased, and all of this, evidently, causes the wear and tear of the players,” he said. Top players have criticized the ever-increasing fixture schedule, with some talking of strike action.
Finding a Balance
Iniesta called for organizations to find a balance between the health of players and the spectacle of the game. “Organisations have to think carefully about the health of the players and combine it with the spectacle… That sometimes is not easy,” he said. With the demand for players to perform at their best, Iniesta emphasized the need for a consensus to be reached to prevent burnout.
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