Meet Kerala’s 15-year-old ‘Lamine Yamal’: ‘Messi is my favourite’

A 15-year-old resident of Chakkuvally, Kerala named Allen James has been gaining attention on social media due to a striking resemblance to Barcelona and Spain forward Lamine Yamal. From their similar hairstyles and facial features to their matching smiles, Allen bears a uncanny resemblance to the Spanish football star. The comparison first came to light via a video shared by local vlogger Nikhil Manohar, which garnered significant online traction, amassing over 14 million views.

The video featured Allen donning a Yamal jersey, which further fueled the buzz. A Class 10 student at Peruvazhi Government High School, Allen plays as a defender for his school's football team, a stark contrast to Yamal's renowned attacking prowess. Allen's family members share his passion for the sport; his brother also plays football.

While Yamal is Allen's favorite football player, he remains a devoted fan of Lionel Messi and Argentina. The sudden notoriety has transformed Allen's social media presence; his follower count, which had been around 200 prior to the video's virality, now exceeds 30,000. Esteemed invitations to local events as a guest have also begun to flow in, as local residents seek to meet the teenager who has become Kerala's "Yamal lookalike".

Allen remains unfazed by the attention, noting that while many have pointed out his resemblance to Yamal, he never gave it much thought initially. Even as the clips continue to circulate and generate jokes about potential future developments, such as a transfer to Barcelona, Allen remains focused on his love for football and his admiration for Messi and Argentina.