Don't be daft, of course it's way too early to start banging on about Lamine Yamal in the same breath as the all-time greats. He's just 16 – turning 17 on Saturday! Let's leave Pelé, Messi, and all the other football gods out of this, shall we? It's not fair on the boy, and it's hardly fair on their legendary careers either. It's premature, reactionary, and probably just plain bonkers.

And yet... how can you not?

Spain's new wunderkind had already wowed everyone at Euro 2024 before he pulled off that amazing left-footed goal against France on Tuesday. The funny thing is, Yamal's story isn't the usual underdog tale we all love. To be honest, he's been almost too good. What he's done in this tournament isn't just great for a 16-year-old – it's great for any player.

As Yamal curled that beauty past the French keeper in the Euro 2024 semi-final, you could almost hear the ghosts of football legends past rising to applaud. And with that, he didn't just send Spain to the final. He broke Pelé's record as the youngest scorer in a major tournament. It's like the lad's collecting records for fun.

"It's a pride, it's a dream," Yamal grinned afterwards, probably still pinching himself. "After all, every kid dreams to score a goal like this with his national team in such an important moment." And who can blame him for being chuffed? One minute he's sweating over school exams, the next he's breaking Pele's records on the biggest stage.

But here's the kicker - Yamal's not just about fancy footwork and wonder goals. He's been outstanding throughout the tournament, contributing in every way possible. Before his semi-final heroics, he'd already racked up three assists, one each against Croatia, Georgia, and Germany. Two of these came in the knockouts, mind you. The lad's not selfish, he's a team player through and through.

Born to a Moroccan dad and a mum from Equatorial Guinea, Yamal's story is as colourful as his play. He's a product of Barcelona's famed La Masia academy, but he's no pampered prodigy. Hailing from Rocafonda 304, one of Spain's poorest neighbourhoods, Yamal's rise is a testament to raw talent and sheer graft. It's no wonder he celebrates his goals with the famous '304' gesture - a nod to his roots.

Back in 2007, a young Lionel Messi cradled baby Yamal in his arms. It wasn't just luck – it was a Unicef raffle win that brought them together. Talk about being touched by greatness! It's like Yamal was baptised into football royalty before he could even walk.

As we look ahead to Sunday's final, it's hard not to get excited. But it's not just about this tournament. Yamal's emergence could shape how football fans view the game in the years to come.

For years, we've been spoiled by the Messi-Ronaldo rivalry. Those two pushed each other to ridiculous heights, rewriting record books and leaving us all gobsmacked. But with both in the twilight of their careers, fans have been wondering: who's next?

Sure, we've got Mbappé and Haaland. They're brilliant, no doubt. But Yamal? He has already proved to be something else. He's got that same spark, that same ability to make you believe anything's possible on a football pitch. And he's doing it at 16!

Imagine the rivalries we could see in the coming years. Yamal vs Mbappé could be the new Messi vs Ronaldo. Or maybe it'll be Yamal vs Haaland, skill against power. The possibilities are mouth-watering.

But let's not get ahead of ourselves. As Rafa Marquez, Barcelona's reserve team coach, rightly points out, "He's still only a child." The football world has seen its fair share of wonderkids who fizzled out under the weight of expectations. Remember Bojan Krkic? Ansu Fati? Both struggled with the burden of being labelled the 'New Messi'.

But Yamal seems to be handling the pressure with a maturity beyond his years. His decision-making on the pitch has even impressed the likes of Xavi, who noted, "Lamine's decision-making is almost always correct. That's surprising for someone so young."

What's truly mind-boggling is how unfazed he seems by this ever-mounting pressure. While the rest of us would be a bundle of nerves, Yamal's out there making seasoned pros look like they're chasing shadows. As Spain boss Luis De La Fuente put it, "We have seen the brilliant product of a genius of a footballer that we know has great potential and that we have to take great care of."

The stats back this up. Nobody has created more goals (three), opportunities (16) or 'big chances' (six) at Euro 2024 than Yamal. These are Messi-esque numbers, and they're coming from a kid who was doing his homework between matches!

As we look ahead to Sunday's final, it's hard not to get excited about what Yamal might do next. Will he cap off this dream run with the ultimate prize in the European footballing area?

Whatever happens, one thing's for sure - we're watching the birth of something special. In a sport that's been desperately seeking its next superstar since the twilight of the Messi-Ronaldo era, Yamal seems ready to pick up the mantle.

Who knows? In 20 years' time, we might all be saying we were there when it all began. When a kid named Yamal announced himself to the world and started his journey to football immortality. Now that's something worth tuning in for, isn't it?