Lamine Yamal has made clear that money has nothing to do with why he plays football. Speaking to The Guardian, the Barcelona winger said his motivation is rooted entirely in his love for the game.

"I love football. I don't play for money, I play because I love it," Yamal said. "Players who obsess over goals or assists don't enjoy it. I play for the fun: to dribble, to play one touch, two touches, to make a teammate who hasn't scored score. For the fans' happiness. To hear the olés. I play for that."

The 17-year-old — who completed a remarkable double last season, winning La Liga with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain — described football as a source of pure joy rather than personal ambition.

Rocafonda roots and La Masia lessons

Yamal grew up in Rocafonda, a tough neighbourhood in Mataró, and credits that upbringing for the fearless edge that sets his game apart. While La Masia gave him structure, he says the streets gave him something no academy could teach.

"Barcelona gave me control, understanding, IQ. In the park there's no IQ: you go at your opponent, then go back again," he explained. "If I hadn't come from where I came from and been at La Masia, I wouldn't have come out like this."

"That's fear — football has none"

When asked about pressure, Yamal was direct. Watching his family struggle is the only fear he has ever known — not the roar of a packed stadium.

"I saw my mum struggle so that I could play football. I've seen my dad go round the streets collecting scrap metal so I could eat. That's fear," he said. "In football there's no fear. I don't have that fear now and that's the only fear I could have in life."

Feeling like Superman at Camp Nou

Yamal saved some of his most vivid words for describing the electricity between him and supporters at Camp Nou. He says the crowd's anticipation whenever he receives the ball is an experience unlike anything else.

"At the Camp Nou, people know I'm going to go at someone. That feeling, that expectation, is something you can only experience in sport, being a player like me. You feel like Superman, you feel like Spiderman. You feel spectacular," he said.

Last season, Yamal registered 24 goals and 18 assists for Barcelona, helping the club to the La Liga title while also playing a decisive role in Spain's World Cup triumph.