For nearly two decades, Lionel Messi has been celebrated by countless fans as the finest footballer of the modern era. The Argentine legend holds a record eight Ballon d’Or awards and has built an unparalleled legacy that includes a World Cup title, four Champions League trophies, and ten La Liga championships. Now at 38, playing for Inter Miami CF while still representing Argentina internationally, Messi acknowledges that the next generation is ready to take over. In a recent Adidas event, as reported by Marca, Messi was asked which young player reminds him of himself and who could become the world's best. He immediately pointed to Lamine Yamal.
“There’s a new generation of footballers who are very good and have many years ahead, but if I must choose one because of his age, what he has done so far, and the future he can have, it’s Lamine. There’s no doubt, for me he’s the best. He reminds me of myself when I was young,” Messi said.
Why Yamal Is Already Compared to Messi
The comparison carries extra weight because Yamal’s path mirrors Messi’s at FC Barcelona. Messi spent 17 years in Barcelona’s senior team, wearing the iconic number 10 shirt and becoming the club’s greatest player while dominating European football alongside rivals like Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo won five Ballon d’Or awards, second only to Messi’s eight. Messi was 22 years and 160 days old when he won his first Ballon d’Or in 2009, making him the third-youngest winner ever. Now, Yamal is becoming the face of Barcelona’s new generation, wearing the number 10 shirt and exciting fans at Camp Nou much like Messi once did.
Yamal’s Astonishing Rise by the Numbers
Despite being only 18, Yamal’s rise is one of the fastest and most statistically impressive in years. The winger has made 154 club appearances and scored 49 goals while breaking numerous records at Barcelona. He became the youngest player to reach 40 goals for the club, surpassing a record held since 1915 by Paulino Alcántara. Earlier this year, he became the youngest to score ten or more goals in the Champions League. Yamal is Barcelona’s youngest debutant, youngest goalscorer, and fastest to 100 appearances, holding 16 separate club records. While Messi’s goals-per-game ratio was slightly higher at the same age, Yamal has reached these milestones at an even younger age.
Internationally, Yamal has scored six goals in 25 appearances for Spain and played a key role in their 2024 European Championship victory. His individual honors include winning the Kopa Trophy twice, awarded to the world’s best under-21 player, and finishing runner-up to Ousmane Dembélé in the latest Ballon d’Or voting.
Messi Believes Yamal Can Build His Own Legacy
There remains a huge gap between Yamal’s current achievements and Messi’s career, which includes four Champions League titles, ten La Liga trophies, and World Cup glory with Argentina in 2022. However, Messi’s public endorsement is significant, as few young players have received such praise from the Argentine icon. With Barcelona rebuilding around the teenager and Spain viewing him as a future star, Yamal’s rise looks less like a promising start and more like the beginning of football’s next superstar era.
