Lamine Yamal, a 100-year-old Barça fan at age 17: "I left my fear behind at Mataró Park."

The case of Lamine Yamal is unique. The Barça striker will play his 100th game for Barça against Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semi-finals. Curiously, this is the same day that marks the second anniversary of his debut with the first team, under Xavi Hernández , and before he has even reached the age of majority. This, in fact, won't happen until July 13th.

But despite his youth, he has already become a key player for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team, with whom he won the European Championship last summer. If his progress continues along the same path, it won't be surprising to see him on the Ballon d'Or podium very soon. Or even lifting that trophy as well.

"I've never been afraid. I do have motivation, like a tickle in my stomach before the game, but I think that's good and that all players have it. I left that fear at the Mataró park a long time ago," Lamine commented ahead of the match against Inter. "It's my first Champions League semi-final, and it's the same for many of my teammates. We're really eager to get to the final, to show the team we are, and we're very excited," said Lamine Yamal, who warned that the Italians' poor run of form doesn't mean they have any less of a chance in the tie. The Nerazzurri , moreover, have always struggled to score goals against a player with whom many are quick to compare them: Leo Messi .

"I don't compare myself to anyone"

"I don't think this will be Lamine Yamal's era. I hope it's Barça's. If Messi didn't score against Inter, I imagine the only thing missing is that opponent... I hope I can score," asserted the forward, who prefers to avoid any kind of comparison, especially not with the Argentine. "I don't compare myself to him or anyone else. I leave those things to the press. I only think about improving every day. I think making comparisons is pointless, especially not with Messi," said the Mataró native, who also noted that he hasn't spoken with the current Inter Miami player, with whom he starred, when he was just a baby, in an image for a charity calendar for the club that many now see as a premonition.

And, as much as he doesn't want to compare himself, some facts are interesting. Messi played his first official match for Barça at 17, against Espanyol, on October 16, 2004. His 100th, meanwhile, came against Valencia at the age of 20. Before reaching the age of majority, he only played nine matches for the first team and was in the starting lineup on two occasions.

"Age is just a number"

Times, of course, are very different. But right now, on the cusp of his 100th game for the Blaugrana, Lamine has 21 goals and 27 assists, as well as three titles: a La Liga title, a Spanish Super Cup, and a Copa del Rey. What's also undeniable is that his attitude is far from the Argentine's initial timidity. Some even accuse him of being too cocky: "As long as I win, they can't say anything to me. When I don't win, they can."

"As a player, I want to be a good footballer, and also be a respectful and polite person, which is what my parents taught me at home," emphasized the Rocafonda native, who believes that youth should never be a problem. "There's no age in football. It's a sport that depends on the quality and mentality of each individual. If you're ready, you're ready. Age is just a number," he added, although he also wanted to emphasize the great importance of the club's youth academy. "As children, we saw Barça win the Champions League in 2015. We played because we felt the need to play for the team. Coming from abroad isn't the same as playing in a derby or a Clásico as a La Masía player," he concluded.