Luis Suárez has dismissed comparisons between Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi, arguing they are completely different players. On 18 Jun, Suárez urged patience over Yamal comparisons, acknowledging the 18-year-old's outstanding talent but warning against placing unnecessary expectations on him.
What happened?
Luis Suárez spoke to Mundo Deportivo about the comparisons between Yamal and Messi, stating that they are different players with the same left foot and quality, but with distinct styles.
Luis Suárez praised Yamal's growing influence for Spain, highlighting his impact in the first match against Cape Verde, where he drew attention from defenders and created scoring opportunities.
Why it matters for Luis Suárez
Suárez believes Messi's longevity is built on his mentality as much as his ability, and he praised his Inter Miami team-mate's determination after watching him prepare for the World Cup.
Luis Suárez rejected suggestions that he and Messi have eased off since joining Inter Miami, stating that they still have the desire to compete and play at a high level.
What comes next?
Lamine Yamal will continue to carry growing expectations after establishing himself as one of Spain's key attacking players, and Suárez hopes he can eventually reach the extraordinary standards set by Messi throughout his career.
On 18 Jun, Suárez watched Messi prepare for the World Cup and was impressed by his mentality and determination, which he believes is key to his success, as Messi continues to prove doubters wrong with his performances on the pitch.
Messi's mentality
Luis Suárez explained that he has been training with Messi and knows how he prepared for the World Cup, and he praised his mental strength and ability to pick himself up after missing a penalty and scoring two goals.
Suárez also highlighted the professionalism of Messi and other players who compete in the World Cup, stating that they still have the desire to play and compete at a high level, even after joining Inter Miami.
Luis Suárez's comments come as Yamal continues to make a name for himself in the football world, and Suárez's backing will be seen as a significant endorsement of the young player's talent and potential, as he looks to follow in the footsteps of Messi and other football greats.