Yamal conjures up Messi memories after Barca run riot over Madrid, Betis

When Lamine Yamal glided past two Real Madrid defenders before coolly tucking the ball just inside the post, it was hard not to get a shiver that Lionel Messi was back in a Barcelona jersey.

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He still wears dental braces, but Barcelona's teenage phenomenon has emerged as opponents' No. 1 problem thanks to his speed, creativity, and gorgeous goals from Messi's old spot on the right flank.

Yamal has run amok in back-to-back five-goal blowouts for Barcelona. He led their humiliation of archrivals Real Madrid 5-2 in the Spanish Super Cup final last weekend and helped demolish Real Betis 5-1 in the Copa del Rey on Wednesday.

Yet, beyond the goals, it is his grace with the ball that is conjuring up comparisons to one of Barcelona's greatest players. Yamal, like Messi, makes it look so easy as he flicks past defenders who always seem just one, or two, steps too slow. They also share an incredible scoring touch with their left foot, whether scoring powerful strikes from distance or applying a finesse finish amid traffic as Yamal did against Real Madrid on Sunday.

"After Lionel Messi, he is our best player," Barcelona midfielder Gavi said about Yamal after the forward recorded an assist and scored the fifth goal to round out the thrashing of Betis.