Lamine Yamal has expressed amazement at becoming an inspiration for young fans, drawing parallels to how he once idolized Lionel Messi and Neymar.
The 17-year-old forward, who has accumulated 14 goals and 22 assists this season, has become a transformative figure for Barcelona as they remain in contention for three major trophies heading into Saturday\'s Copa del Rey final against Real Madrid.
\"It\'s incredible,\" Yamal told ESPN as part of Powerade\'s new campaign featuring \"The 304\" film, which references his neighborhood. \"When I was a kid, I wore Neymar\'s shirts, Messi\'s jerseys, all these players, so seeing kids wearing my shirt means that I\'m their inspiration, at least in football.\"
Yamal\'s impact at Barcelona has been reflected in merchandise sales, with his jersey becoming one of the most popular items at the club\'s official store and a common sight among supporters at the Olympic Stadium where Barcelona currently plays its home matches.
The young star\'s meteoric rise began with his Barcelona debut as a 15-year-old on April 29, 2023, less than two years ago, and has since included winning the European Championship with Spain alongside numerous individual accolades.
Earlier this week, Yamal added the breakthrough of the year award at the 2025 Laureus World Sports Awards to his growing collection, which already includes the prestigious Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy awards from 2024.
Yamal expressed particular surprise at the rapid nature of his rise to prominence and the unique dynamic of his young fan base, noting the small age gap between himself and many of his admirers.
\"It\'s something I never thought would happen so fast: [seeing] those 13-year-old kids in the shirt of a kid who\'s only four years older than them. It is amazing,\" said Yamal.