Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has weighed in on football’s most debated topic — the GOAT conversation — and for him, the answer is clear: Lionel Messi.
Speaking at a recent press event in China, the 17-year-old rising star made his admiration for the Argentine legend known.
“For me, Messi is the greatest player in history,” Yamal said, as quoted by Barca Universal. “Everything he did, all over the pitch, everything about his game, I liked it all, and it has truly been something beautiful for me.”
Yamal, who is widely regarded as one of the most promising talents in world football, has often expressed his deep admiration for Messi, Barcelona’s all-time top scorer and a multiple-time Ballon d’Or winner.
The teenager’s public praise comes amid growing anticipation that he could be among the nominees for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, potentially joining his idol on football’s most prestigious shortlist.
While Messi now plies his trade at Inter Miami, his legacy at Barcelona remains etched in history — and continues to inspire the next generation of stars like Yamal.
