AC Milan icon Clarence Seedorf offers verdict on Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal comparisons

The meteoric rise of Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has drawn inevitable comparisons to Lionel Messi’s early days at the club. Yamal, just 17, plays in the same role where Messi launched his legendary career, showcasing flair and creativity that remind many of the Argentine icon’s beginnings. But former AC Milan star Clarence Seedorf isn’t buying into the hype.

In a recent interview with DSports, the Dutch legend made it clear that while Yamal is a phenomenal talent, putting him side by side with Messi is not only unfair but also premature.

“You can’t. We need to be careful with certain things. No one can be compared to Messi in the last 20 years. That kid has tremendous talent, but it’s way too soon to compare him to Messi. I don’t like it because their games are different, because it puts too much pressure on him, and because Messi is still playing,” Seedorf said.

Seedorf stressed that it’s not just about early brilliance—it’s about sustaining excellence over time. “Besides, we need to see if his career can keep going like this. You have to know how to sustain it over time and show, as the years go by, what level you’re at and which clubs you’ll play for. Right now, it’s too much pressure, too heavy a burden. Messi made history, and no one has been like him in this century,” he added.

Clarence Seedorf of AC Milan and Lionel Messi of FC Barcelona compete for the ball during the 2011 UEFA Champions League. (Claudio Villa/Getty Images)

Messi vs Maradona? Seedorf says it’s impossible to decide

Just as he considers it unwise to compare Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi, Clarence Seedorf also said it is “impossible” to favor either Messi or Diego Maradona when debating the greatest player of all time.

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Former Champions League winner with Barcelona takes a shot at Lionel Messi and Lamine Yamal

“It has a lot to do with the impact each one had at the time they played. We’ve seen it from Pelé to Maradona to Messi, players who were ahead of their time. They did things that were new, different from what their own generation could do. I prefer to enjoy them rather than compare them—and thankfully, we have new talents like Lamine Yamal appearing now,” he explained.

Spain a 2026 World Cup favorite

Looking ahead, the four-time Champions League winner also believes Spain will be a top contender at the 2026 World Cup, which will be hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

With Yamal emerging as one of the brightest talents in world soccer—already tipped as a Ballon d’Or favorite—alongside experienced midfield anchor Rodri and young stars like Pedri, Seedorf sees Spain as a team capable of recapturing the glory of their 2010 World Cup triumph.