I play football for fun, not Money — Yamal

Barcelona and Spain winger Lamine Yamal has revealed that his primary motivation for playing football is not money or scoring goals, but rather the sheer enjoyment of the game. In an interview with The Guardian, Yamal stated that he does not play football for financial gain, but rather because he genuinely loves the sport. He explained that the joy of football comes from being creative on the pitch and assisting his teammates.

"I don’t play football for money, I play because I like it," Yamal said. "Players who are obsessed with goals or assists do not enjoy." The teenager also shared his experience of meeting Lionel Messi, expressing his gratitude for the Argentine star's contributions to the sport. "I went to Leo Messi and said: thank you," Yamal said, noting that the encounter was spontaneous and not intended for publicity.

Yamal emphasized his desire to maintain the spontaneity and enjoyment that initially drew him to football, rather than allowing external pressures or statistics to overshadow the intrinsic pleasure of the game.