Lamine Yamal is already a household name at 17. Last night’s performance in the Champions League has drawn insane comparisons to Messi and Ronaldo.
Yamal stars on a crazy night in the UEFA Champions League
When Marcus Thuram nonchalantly backheeled Inter Milan into the lead after 30 seconds of their Champions League semi-final first leg away to Barcelona, the watching world knew they were about to witness something special. The tie ended 3-3, with Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal stealing the show with yet another virtuoso display on the grandest stage in club football. The 17-year-old was already making his 100th appearance for FC Barcelona; he’s now scored 22 times and made 33 assists for the Catalan giants. Already looking like a complete attacker, the inverted right-winger has six goals and 14 assists in 30 LaLiga appearances in 2024-2025. This season’s Champions League has also been his playground. The astonishingly gifted left footer has five goals and four assists from 12 outings in the elite competition. He is now the youngster player ever to score in a Champions League semi-final.
Already a winner with Spain, can he eclipse Messi and Ronaldo?
To put this absurdly talented youngster’s numbers into perspective, let’s stack them up against two of the greats. What were Messi and Ronaldo doing when they were 17? Cristiano Ronaldo had only made 19 appearances with five goals and four assists. Lionel Messi only had NINE senior appearances under his belt with a solitary goal and no assists. Both of those men enjoyed freakish longevity. Ronaldo was an especially late bloomer, but the early signs already indicate that Yamal can become the best footballer of his generation. His stunning solo effort against Inter, as well as his screamer in the Euro 2024 semi-final for Spain against France, are proof that the BMT is there. Yamal and La Roja went all the way. If Barca go to the Champions League final, their opponents will need a master plan to somehow contain the best teenage talent on the planet.
How far will Lamine Yamal go in football?
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