Speaking to The Guardian during Spain's latest international camp, the Barcelona forward also discussed his ambitions, his approach to football and the qualities he believes separate him from other players.
Yamal recalled asking his father to remove the photograph from Facebook because he did not want the comparisons with Messi to define his career.
“I asked my father to delete it from Facebook. The comparisons were too easy. I wanted to be Lamine, I didn't want to be Messi.”
The 19-year-old also believes his ability to improvise is increasingly important in a game becoming more structured.
“A full-back is like a robot trying to stop me. Robots are almost perfect, but a human has something a robot doesn't have. Football is mechanised, but there are players who have that special spark. I try to play with opponents, to make sure they can't mechanise me.”
Yamal remains confident in his own ability and believes he has been performing at Ballon d'Or level for longer than just this season.
“To be totally honest, it's not just this year that I've been at Ballon d'Or level, but for longer. Everyone knows that I am different.”
Despite his remarkable achievements at such a young age, Yamal said his upbringing has helped him retain perspective.
“In football there is no fear. I've seen my mother struggle so that I could play and my father collect scrap in the streets so that I could eat. That is fear. Now if I need to help my family, I can.”
He added: “I will never say, ‘Who are you? I've won a World Cup.’ Only stupid people do that. I know football is 0.000001% of life.”
Yamal says his love of the game remains the driving force behind his performances.
“I don't play for money, I play for fun. When I get the ball and feel people stand up in the stadium, you feel more powerful than anyone. You feel like Superman or Spiderman.”
The Barcelona academy has also shaped his game, but Yamal believes his experience playing football in the streets has been equally important.
“Barcelona gives you control and football IQ. In the park there is no IQ: you go at your opponent and come back. I have both.”