Spain’s boss Luis de la Fuente reckons it would be a mistake to compare Lamine Yamal with legendary players Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona. Yamal is only 18 but he has already shown the skills to go a long way in his career.

Spain will play Saudi Arabia in Atlanta in their second game in Group H but de la Fuente remained tight-lipped when asked if Yamal would start for the team. The winger was on the bench in a goalless draw against Cape Verde and was introduced by de la Fuente in the 71st minute.

“It would be a mistake to compare [Yamal] to anyone,” De la Fuente said in a news conference on Saturday, when asked about the star’s role now in the Spain team, compared to those of Messi and Maradona with Argentina in the past. “He’s 18, in a process of development, of maturing… We have to let him follow his path.

“These kinds of players, who have something different, are ready for it,” he added. “They’re geniuses, like Salvador Dali, or Michelangelo. What seems exceptional to us, isn’t for them.”

Yamal is yet to achieve full fitness from a muscle injury he suffered while playing for Barcelona in April. The prodigy himself admitted he is not yet ready to play for the whole 90 minutes.

“We’ll evaluate that,” de la Fuente said. “The best news is that he’s here. Lamine is in a good moment. Whether he plays 55, 58 or 63 minutes, that will depend on the game. We’ll think about his contribution to the team, and what’s beneficial for him… You’ll see tomorrow.”

The head coach added that Spain is motivated to prove their mettle after a disappointing draw against Cape Verde.

“The team is stung, and sometimes, criticism is motivating,” he said. “The players do read things, they’re angry, and for sure tomorrow the game will be very different.”