World Cup 2026: Lamine Yamal Declares Messi Best Ever, Names Neymar as Idol

Rising Spanish football sensation Lamine Yamal has unequivocally declared Lionel Messi the greatest player in the history of the sport. The 18-year-old Barcelona forward emphasized that Messi's consistent performances leave no room for debate regarding his legacy.

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Every match proves he's the best in history. If anyone has doubts, it's because they're looking for them. There's nothing more to say.

"Every match proves he's the best in history. If anyone has doubts, it's because they're looking for them," Yamal told RTVE, as quoted by FotMob. "There's nothing more to say." Despite his admiration for Messi, Yamal revealed that his personal idol is the Brazilian superstar Neymar.

Messi recently marked significant milestones in the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifiers. He scored a hat-trick in Argentina's 3-0 victory, bringing his World Cup goal tally to 16, equaling Miroslav Klose's record. At 38 years and 357 days, Messi also became the oldest player to score multiple goals in a World Cup match, surpassing Roger Milla's previous record.

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My idol is Neymar, but Messi is the best.

Yamal himself is focused on his recovery from a hamstring injury. He has been carefully managed upon his return, playing limited minutes. "I'm fine, I'm feeling good, but it's too soon, it's unnecessary; I'm still settling in," Yamal stated. "It's not the right time to play a full match yet - but I can play for as many minutes as the manager wants. I want to be on the pitch; at the end of the day, even if you know you can't play for 90 minutes, you always want to get out there and help the team."

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I'm fine, I'm feeling good, but it's too soon, it's unnecessary; I'm still settling in. It's not the right time to play a full match yet - but I can play for as many minutes as the manager wants. I want to be on the pitch; at the end of the day, even if you know you can't play for 90 minutes, you always want to get out there and help the team.