Spain star dismisses any remaining debate after Argentina captain’s latest World Cup heroics while revealing Neymar remains his childhood idol
Spain sensation Lamine Yamal has offered an emphatic verdict on football’s greatest-ever player, insisting there should be no doubts about Lionel Messi’s place at the summit of the sport following the Argentine’s latest World Cup masterclass.
Speaking during a press conference at the FIFA World Cup, the teenage winger was asked about Messi’s recent hat-trick performance and delivered a response that left little room for debate.
“Messi’s hat-trick? Each game shows that he is the best player in history,” Yamal said.
“If someone has doubts, it’s because they’re purposely trying to look for them. There is nothing more to say.”
The comments come as Messi continues to add new chapters to one of football’s most celebrated careers. Despite being in the latter stages of his playing days, the Argentina captain remains one of the defining figures of the tournament and continues to produce performances that reinforce his standing among the game’s all-time greats.
For Yamal, however, the discussion appears already settled.
The Barcelona and Spain star belongs to a new generation of footballers who grew up watching the rivalry between Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo dominate world football. Yet unlike many players who avoid entering the so-called “GOAT debate,” Yamal spoke with complete certainty about where he believes Messi belongs in football history.
Interestingly, the Spain international also revealed a distinction between the player he considers the greatest and the player who inspired him most while growing up.
“My idol is Neymar, but Messi is the best ever.”
That admission reflects a view Yamal has expressed on several occasions throughout his rise to stardom. The Spanish winger has often cited Neymar as the player whose creativity, dribbling and flair first captured his imagination as a young football fan.
Yet admiration and greatness, in Yamal’s eyes, are not necessarily the same thing.
The teenager’s remarks carry particular significance given his own status as one of football’s brightest young stars. Already a European champion with Spain and one of the faces of the new generation emerging from Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, Yamal is widely regarded as one of the players expected to shape the future of the sport.
Comparisons with Messi have followed him almost from the beginning of his professional career. Both emerged from Barcelona’s academy, both are left-footed attackers, and both possess the ability to change matches with moments of individual brilliance.
Yamal has consistently rejected direct comparisons, insisting that no player can replicate what Messi achieved during his extraordinary career.
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