In a season where he continues to establish himself as a key player for FC Barcelona, and on the eve of the Champions League Round of 16, Lamine Yamal sat down for an interview with the tournament’s official website to address the ongoing comparisons to Lionel Messi.

Lamine Yamal on Being Compared to Messi

"I don’t think about whether I have more or less than someone else. I believe the key is to focus on yourself, to do your best for the team and for yourself. I’m not a player who pays much attention to statistics—I play to enjoy the game, to entertain the fans, and, of course, to win. I don’t compare myself to others," said the young Barça talent.

On the topic of Hansi Flick’s coaching methods, Yamal dismissed the notion that the German coach is overly strict, describing him as "a very kind person who you can talk to."

"He asks how you're doing, he teaches you a lot, and I’ve learned so much from him. That’s why he’s respected both as a coach and as a person. He’s exactly as he appears—strict, but also understanding of what each player needs at any given moment. When it comes to defensive concepts, he does ask certain things of me, but in attack, he doesn’t say much—just to enjoy myself. That’s the confidence he gives us."

With 124 goals in 40 matches, Hansi Flick’s Barcelona has established itself as the highest-scoring team in Europe, averaging 3.10 goals per game. A total of 19 different players have contributed to this remarkable tally, showcasing the team's incredible offensive depth.

Barça’s Offensive Dominance in Europe

Since their last defeat on December 21 against Atlético Madrid, Barcelona has recorded 12 wins and 3 draws, outscoring top clubs like:

PSG (Luis Enrique’s team) by +19 goals

Real Madrid (Ancelotti’s team) by +19 goals

Bayern Munich by +21 goals

Liverpool by +23 goals

As of March, only a handful of clubs have surpassed 100 goals this season, but Barça stands out as the clear leader, closing in on historic numbers.

Can Barcelona Break Guardiola’s Goal Record?

Pep Guardiola’s legendary 2011-12 Barcelona team holds the 21st-century record for most goals in a season, scoring 190 goals in 64 matches (2.97 goals per game).

To surpass this milestone, Flick’s Barça would need to maintain its impressive scoring rate and reach the Champions League and Copa del Rey finals, which would allow them to play a maximum of 61 matches this season.

Key Stats on Barcelona’s Attack

Big Wins: 11 matches won by a margin of 4+ goals (27.5% of their games).

Comparison to Last Season: After 40 matches, Xavi’s Barcelona had scored 81 goals (2.0 per game).

Top Scorer: Robert Lewandowski, with 34 goals in 37 matches, surpassing his previous Barcelona seasons (33 goals in his first year, 26 in his second).

Breakdown of Barcelona’s 124 Goals

Top Playmaker: Raphinha (16 assists).

Goal Distribution:

Right foot: 53 goals

Left foot: 53 goals

Headers: 16 goals

Inside the box: 109 goals

Outside the box: 13 goals

Free kicks: 1 goal

Penalties: 8 goals

Own goals (favoring Barça): 2 goals

19 Different Goal Scorers

Every outfield player, except for goalkeepers, Christensen and Marc Bernal (injured), as well as Héctor Fort and Ansu Fati, has found the back of the net. The latest additions to the list are Pau Cubarsí (scoring against Atlético Madrid) and Gerard Martín & Marc Casadó (scoring against Real Sociedad).

The Only Two Matches Without Goals

Barcelona has scored in 38 out of 40 matches this season, with just two exceptions:

1-0 loss to Real Sociedad at Anoeta

0-1 loss to Leganés at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys