Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente has called for restraint when it comes to comparing teenage Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal to all-time greats Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, while also stopping short of confirming whether Yamal will earn his first World Cup start on Sunday.

Speaking ahead of Spain's upcoming fixture, De la Fuente acknowledged Yamal's extraordinary talent but cautioned against placing such enormous expectations on the young star's shoulders so early in his career.

"It would be a mistake to compare him to Messi or Maradona," De la Fuente said, stressing that the 17-year-old deserves the space to develop on his own terms rather than be measured against two of the sport's most iconic figures.

Yamal's World Cup role

Despite his meteoric rise — Yamal has been one of the standout performers at Barcelona and on the international stage — De la Fuente declined to reveal whether the youngster would be handed a starting berth in Spain's next World Cup match.

The coach's caution around Yamal's deployment suggests Spain are managing the player carefully, mindful of both his potential and the pressures that come with his growing profile. At just 17, Yamal is already one of the most scrutinised players in world football.

Messi and Maradona, two of the greatest players to have ever played the game, set a benchmark that De la Fuente clearly believes is unfair to impose on any player still finding his footing at the highest level. For now, the Spain manager is content to let Yamal's performances speak for themselves — without the weight of impossible comparisons.