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Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal has revealed that money, goals and assists are not what drive him to play football, saying he simply wants to enjoy the game.
The teenage star made the declaration in an interview with The Guardian, stressing that focusing excessively on statistics takes away from the joy of football.
“I don’t play football for money, I play because I like it,” Yamal said.
“Players who are obsessed with goals or assists do not enjoy. I play for fun, to dribble, to play one touch, two, to make a teammate who has not scored, score, for happiness,” he added.
Yamal also spoke about his encounter with Argentine football legend Lionel Messi, revealing that he approached him simply to thank him for his contribution to the sport.
“I went to Leo Messi and said: thank you,” Yamal said.
“I just thanked him a lot for everything he has done and how he’s the best. I’ve always believed he is the best,” he added.
According to Yamal, the encounter with Messi was spontaneous and not an attempt to create publicity.
“I always try to distance myself a little from things that seem beautiful for show. The moment came from within. I saw him there, so I went to thank him for what he did for football, it came spontaneously,” he said.
The Barcelona winger said his priority remains enjoying the game, creating chances for teammates and expressing himself on the pitch rather than becoming consumed by individual statistics.
