According to a report by Barca Universal on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique has praised Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal for his remarkable progress but warned against comparing the teenager with Lionel Messi.

The former Barcelona manager believes Yamal should focus on developing his own abilities and establishing himself as a special player rather than attempting to replicate the achievements of the Argentine superstar.

Yamal recently responded impressively to another Ballon d’Or disappointment, producing an outstanding display in Barcelona’s emphatic 6-1 victory over Deportivo Alaves.

The Spanish international scored twice and troubled the opposition defence throughout the encounter, while Raphinha and Fermin Lopez also made important contributions to the convincing win.

Luis Enrique was particularly impressed by the teenager’s mentality, believing he has the right attitude towards his development and understands the importance of continuously improving his game.

The PSG boss also dismissed comparisons between Yamal and Messi, whom he regards as the greatest footballer in history. He suggested that expecting the Barcelona youngster to surpass the Argentine would be unfair.

According to Enrique, Yamal is intelligent enough to concentrate on his personal development rather than measuring his achievements against those of other footballers.

He believes the 19-year-old should continue building on his natural strengths, improving his weaknesses and creating an identity that will distinguish him from other great players.

Enrique also spoke about the difficulties defenders face when attempting to contain the Barcelona winger. He explained that opponents must try to prevent Yamal from receiving possession because of the danger he creates whenever he gets the ball.

However, the French champions’ manager warned against portraying Barcelona as a team that depends entirely on one player.

He highlighted the quality within Hansi Flick’s squad, pointing to the contributions of Raphinha, Pedri, Pau Cubarsi and goalkeeper Joan Garcia as examples of the talent available to the Catalan club.

Enrique’s comments provide further recognition of Yamal’s growing reputation and potential in European football.

Despite finishing third in the latest Ballon d’Or rankings, the Barcelona teenager will be eager to maintain his impressive performances and continue developing into one of the world’s leading footballers.