Going Pro as a footballer is one of the biggest challenges in the world. However, if you manage to go pro, being a Football player is an impeccable career option. Money, fame, popularity, a lavish life, you will have it all, and the world will be at your feet.
But the grim reality of being a footballer, especially if you break out as a youngster, is that you may have to sacrifice the life that normal people live. Cameras will always follow you, and you won’t be able to enjoy life’s simple pleasures that everyday people can. Social media has made it even worse, as one slip-up and it’s all over the platforms within seconds.
This is something that the current generation of players, like Lamine Yamal, Alejandro Garnacho, Estevao, and more, have to face as they not only debut but also become important first-teamers in their teens.
Lamine Yamal, who debuted at just 15 years of age, has been discussing this aspect of football lately. Yamal appeared on the CBS show 60 Minutes and spoke about various topics, including his dazzling dribbling ability, comparisons with Leo Messi, his upbringing, how he deals with pressure, and much more.
During the interview with 60 Minutes correspondent Jon Wertheim, Yamal also opened up about how he lost all of his privacy at just 16 years of age.
Since Yamal debuted for Barcelona, there has been a lot of focus on his personal life. Heck, many rival fans were spreading false conspiracy theories about his age because they couldn’t stomach how someone could be so good at this young age.
Yamal has been on top of the world since he became a first-teamer. Not only has he become a first-team regular, but he has also become the focal point of Barcelona and the Spanish team. He has also been getting comparisons to a young Leo Messi, with some claiming “Messi was never this good at 17”.
But the focus on his life has been excessive in the past 6 months, as every movement and activity has been put under a microscope. Every hairstyle, every choice of clothing, every purchase, and even who he invites to his private parties, gets scrutinized.
Being so good at such a young age has stripped Yamal away from living a normal teenage life. He has admitted that being so recognizable often makes him feel confined at times, but he wouldn’t change anything about it.
The host asked Lamine whether he could be a normal 18-year-old outside football.
To which Yamal denied, talking about how he’s always followed by paparazzi and he can’t even go out in peace without getting stopped by people. He stated:
“In the end, an 18-year-old kid gets out of school and goes home. I go out to practice while four paparazzi are at my house asking me questions about my life. I turn on the TV, and I’m on TV. I walk down the street, and I see a kid wearing my jersey. I want to go out for a drink, and I can’t because people will stop me. But I don’t mind being a star – honestly, I don’t. In fact, I like it.”
It is a good thing that Lamine Yamal loves being a star because football needs more players like him. His world-class exploits not only saw him be one of the leading candidates for the Balon d’Or in 2024-25, but he has also become a highly marketable player.
In fact, he sold the largest number of shirts in 2025 (1.31 million), even higher than Lionel Messi, who came 2nd with 1.27 million.
