Barcelona and Spain wonderkid Lamine Yamal has revealed that money, goals and assists are not the main reasons he plays football, insisting that his greatest motivation remains the simple enjoyment of the game.
The teenage winger made the comments while speaking to The Guardian, explaining that he does not want to become consumed by personal statistics or the financial rewards that come with being one of football’s biggest young stars.
For Yamal, football is about creativity, expression and making people around him happy.
“I don’t play football for money, I play because I like it,” Yamal said.
The Barcelona star explained that players can lose the enjoyment of football when they become too focused on personal numbers.
According to him, he would rather dribble, combine with teammates and create opportunities than obsess over whether his name appears on the scoresheet.
“Players who are obsessed with goals or assists do not enjoy,” he said, stressing that his preference is to play with freedom and creativity.
Yamal added that some of his happiest moments on the pitch come from helping teammates score, particularly players who have not found the net.
“I play for fun, to dribble, to play one touch, two, to make a teammate who has not scored, score, for happiness,” he explained.
The comments offer an insight into the mentality of a player who has already attracted enormous attention despite his young age.
Yamal has rapidly developed into one of Barcelona’s most important attacking players and has also established himself on the international stage with Spain. His performances have brought widespread recognition, major commercial interest and expectations that would normally place enormous pressure on a young footballer.
Yet Yamal’s comments suggest that he is determined not to allow the attention surrounding his career to change the reason he first fell in love with the sport.
Rather than viewing football purely through statistics, contracts and individual achievements, the winger says he wants to preserve the freedom that allows him to express himself on the pitch.
His comments also reflect the style that has made him such an exciting player to watch. Yamal is known for taking on defenders, attempting creative passes and using close control to create openings for himself and his teammates.
Away from his own career, Yamal also spoke about Lionel Messi, one of the players he has openly admired.
The Barcelona youngster recalled a moment when he encountered the Argentine superstar and decided to approach him simply to express his appreciation.
“I went to Leo Messi and said: thank you,” Yamal recalled.
He explained that he wanted to thank Messi for everything the former Barcelona captain had contributed to football and reiterated his belief that Messi is the greatest player.
“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,” Yamal said.
Yamal further explained that the interaction was not arranged for publicity or intended to create a memorable public moment. Instead, he said the decision came naturally after seeing Messi.
“I always try to distance myself a little from things that seem beautiful for show. The moment came from within,” he said.
The encounter reflects the admiration Yamal has for Messi while also highlighting the younger player’s desire to remain authentic despite the enormous attention surrounding him.
At a time when modern football increasingly places emphasis on statistics, transfer fees, sponsorships and social media numbers, Yamal’s comments offer a different perspective from one of the sport’s most closely watched young talents.
For the Barcelona winger, the essence of football remains relatively simple: receiving the ball, taking on an opponent, combining with teammates, creating chances and enjoying the moment.
That approach could prove particularly important as expectations around him continue to grow. Yamal is already playing at the highest level for both club and country, but his comments indicate that he does not want the pressure of becoming a global superstar to take away the enjoyment that brought him to football in the first place.
His message is clear. The money may come with the profession, and goals and assists may define statistics, but for Yamal, the attraction of football goes deeper.
He simply wants to play, create and enjoy the game.
