According to a report by Barca Universal on Sunday November 1, 2026, Former Barcelona manager Luis Enrique has praised Lamine Yamal for his impressive development but insists that comparisons with Lionel Messi are unfair.

The Paris Saint-Germain coach believes the young winger should concentrate on becoming the best version of himself rather than trying to match the achievements of the Argentine legend.

Yamal recently responded positively to another Ballon d'Or disappointment by delivering an outstanding performance in Barcelona's 6-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves. The Spanish international scored twice and caused constant problems for the opposition defence. Raphinha and Fermin Lopez also played important roles in the convincing victory.

Luis Enrique was impressed by Yamal's mentality and believes he is taking the right approach towards his development. The former Barcelona coach explained that the teenager understands the importance of improving his individual qualities.

He also dismissed suggestions that Yamal could be compared with Messi, whom he considers the greatest footballer in history. According to Enrique, nobody can surpass the Argentine when it comes to such comparisons.

The PSG manager added that Yamal is intelligent enough to focus on his own journey instead of measuring his progress against other footballers. He believes the Barcelona youngster should continue developing his strengths and establishing his own identity.

Enrique also discussed the difficulty of defending against Yamal, explaining that opponents must prevent him from receiving the ball because he becomes extremely dangerous whenever he gets possession.

However, he warned against viewing Barcelona as a team dependent on one individual. He highlighted the quality within Hansi Flick's squad, mentioning Raphinha, Pedri, Pau Cubarsi and goalkeeper Joan Garcia as players capable of making significant contributions.

Enrique's comments represent another major endorsement of Yamal's potential. The teenager will now be determined to continue improving after finishing third in the latest Ballon d'Or rankings.