Comparing a 16-year-old to Pelé and Messi is ridiculous — unless it's Lamine Yamal

DORTMUND, Germany — Don't be ridiculous, of course it's too early to start talking of Lamine Yamal in the same sentence as the all-time greats. He's 16, for goodness' sake. Leave Pelé, and Lionel Messi, and all the others out of this. It is unfair on both his tender years and on their body of work. It is premature and reactionary and probably just downright wrong.

And yet … how can you not?

Spain's latest superstar had astonished Euro 2024 even before the left-footed piece of wizardry he uncorked on France to shift Tuesday's semifinal in his team's favor.

While his is a tremendous story of an emerging and special talent, it doesn't fit the most comfortable narrative quite as perfectly as it might. Truth be told, he's almost been too good. Yamal's efforts in this tournament aren't outstanding for a 16-year-old – he doesn't turn 17 until Saturday — they're outstanding for anyone.

It wouldn't matter if he was 26 or 36, or in his sixth Euros not his first, he had still already been one of the best handful of players in the event, showcasing silky skills, innate movement, perfect weight of pass and ever-present fearlessness. Then, that highlight reel strike of strikes.

The other part, the bit that jars you out of your usual watching rhythm and also makes you feel lucky to be a witness, is how easily greatness touches him. Some players spend their entire career chasing the footsteps of the anointed. In Yamal's case, they're falling into his lap.

And that's where the comparisons come into it, not forced and contrived or stated for the purpose of an argument, but because they're right there, and unavoidable.

When Yamal broke step, turned left and splashed the net to equalize in Munich, he became the youngest player to score in