Barcelona star Lamine Yamal sees Neymar as his idol and desires to look at him play within the World Cup for Brazil.
Printed On 14 Apr 2026
Lamine Yamal is trying to LeBron James for some inspiration as he tries to guide Barcelona to a Champions League comeback.
Barcelona go to Spanish rivals Atletico Madrid on Tuesday, needing to reverse a 2-0 loss from the primary leg of the quarterfinals at residence final week.
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Yamal modified his Instagram profile picture to a photograph of James embracing the NBA trophy following the Cleveland Cavaliers’ win over the Golden State Warriors in 2016. Cleveland trailed 3-1 in that sequence earlier than profitable the title.
“He’s one of many figures who can encourage me for this match,” the 18-year-old Yamal mentioned in a information convention on Monday. “I’ll take into consideration how he did it, and hopefully it really works out the identical for me.”
Yamal additionally talked about one other one in every of his idols, Neymar, who led Barcelona to the historic comeback over Paris Saint-Germain within the spherical of 16 of the 2017 Champions League. Barcelona received the second leg 6-1 at residence after shedding 4-0 in France.
“I’ve watched [the 6-1 match] a number of occasions, and I watched it reside as effectively,” Yamal mentioned. “Neymar is a participant who was crucial for me throughout my childhood. He’s my idol, and I’ll all the time be grateful to him for all the pieces he’s given to soccer.”
Yamal mentioned he hoped the 34-year-old Neymar would get in Brazil’s World Cup squad. The striker is enjoying for Brazilian membership Santos and was not included by coach Carlo Ancelotti in the newest Brazil squad for warm-up matches.
“He evokes everybody,” Yamal mentioned of Neymar. “He’s the kind of participant that you just’ll pay a ticket to look at him play, the kind of participant you’ll watch a recreation once more three days later simply to see his strikes. Hopefully, he shall be on the World Cup.”
5-time European champions Barcelona made it to the semifinals final yr, after they had been eradicated by eventual runners-up Inter Milan.
Barcelona keen to take possibilities towards ‘robust’ Atletico
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick mentioned his gamers should be assured they’ll pull off the comeback.
“I imagine in my group, and I believe we are able to do it. It’s attainable,” he mentioned. “I do know we’re up towards a powerful Atletico aspect with nice gamers. We now have to take our possibilities, as that was the distinction within the first leg.”
Flick didn’t rule out midfielder Frenkie de Jong making his first begin after an extended absence due to a hamstring harm.
Atletico goalkeeper Jan Oblak might return to the beginning lineup after being sidelined for greater than a month due to a muscle harm.
Atletico are hoping to achieve the semifinals for the primary time since 2017.
Coach Diego Simeone didn’t rule out Oblak’s return regardless that he has not performed since March 10 within the 5-2 win over Tottenham within the spherical of 16. The goalkeeper has been practising with the squad for the previous few days and is reportedly match to begin.
“I nonetheless haven’t instructed the gamers who will begin,” Simeone mentioned on Monday, including he was unlikely to make any announcement in regards to the beginning lineup till nearer to recreation time on Tuesday.
“We’re satisfied of what we want, and we’ll play the sport we have to,” Simeone mentioned.
Whoever begins must face a prolific Barcelona assault that features Yamal, Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski and Marcus Rashford. Absent for Barcelona shall be Raphinha due to a hamstring harm.
This would be the fifth match between Atletico and Barcelona in lower than two months. They’ve cut up the opposite 4 within the league, La Liga and the Copa del Rey.
Whoever advances on Tuesday will face Arsenal or Sporting Lisbon within the semifinals. Arsenal received the primary leg 1-0 in Lisbon final week. Their second leg in England is on Wednesday.
