According to a report by Barca Universal on Sunday, November 1, 2026, former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has praised Lamine Yamal’s development but believes comparisons between the young winger and Lionel Messi are unfair.

The Paris Saint-Germain coach believes Yamal should focus on becoming the best version of himself rather than trying to achieve the same level of success as the Argentine legend.

Yamal recently responded to another Ballon d’Or disappointment with an impressive display in Barcelona’s 6-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves. The Spanish international scored twice and caused several problems for the opposition defence, while Raphinha and Fermin Lopez also made important contributions to the convincing win.

Luis Enrique was impressed by the teenager’s mentality, saying he believes Yamal understands the importance of developing his individual qualities and continuing to improve his game.

The former Barcelona coach also rejected comparisons between Yamal and Messi, whom he regards as the greatest footballer in history. He believes nobody can surpass the Argentine in such discussions.

The PSG manager added that Yamal is intelligent enough to concentrate on his own development rather than measuring his progress against other players. He wants the Barcelona youngster to build on his strengths and establish his own identity in football.

Enrique also spoke about the challenge of defending against Yamal, explaining that opponents must stop him from receiving the ball because he becomes extremely dangerous whenever he has possession.

However, he warned against treating Barcelona as a team that depends on one player. The French champions' manager highlighted the quality in Hansi Flick’s squad, naming Raphinha, Pedri, Pau Cubarsi and goalkeeper Joan Garcia as players capable of making important contributions.

Enrique’s comments provide another major endorsement of Yamal’s potential as the teenager looks to continue his development after finishing third in the latest Ballon d’Or rankings.