Manchester United legend places Lamine Yamal above Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo

At just 17 years old, Lamine Yamal is making waves in the soccer world, quickly becoming one of its brightest stars. With a UEFA European Championship title for Spain and two domestic trophies with Barcelona under his belt, the left-footed winger is spearheading Spain’s efforts this season. Many believe Yamal could be the true heir to Lionel Messi’s legacy.

Among the voices praising Yamal, Rio Ferdinand stands out for his bold remarks. The Manchester United legend, now an independent soccer pundit, made a strong case for why Yamal’s consistency sets him apart from even the biggest names in soccer history.

Ferdinand didn’t shy away from putting Yamal above some of the sport’s greatest players, including Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho. “Cristiano Ronaldo wasn’t doing what Lamine is doing at the same age. Ronaldo Nazário, Messi, Neymar, Mbappé, Owen, Zidane, Ronaldinho… none of them have shown the consistency and continuity this young player delivers. It’s a fact,” Ferdinand said on his show, Rio Reacts.

He elaborated further, explaining the reasoning behind his statement: “With Yamal, we’ve never seen anything like this before. Most of the greats started emerging at 18. They may have played at 17, but their real brilliance came at 18 and beyond”.

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 match between FC Barcelona and SL Benfica. (David Ramos/Getty Images)

Lamine Yamal: The heir to Messi’s throne?

The 17-year-old phenom seems poised to fill Messi’s shoes at Barcelona. This season alone, Yamal has scored 12 goals and provided 17 assists in 37 matches. Over his burgeoning career, he’s tallied 19 goals and 24 assists in 88 appearances for Barcelona.

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In addition to his domestic success, Yamal played a pivotal role in Spain’s UEFA European Championship win and has established himself as the face of Barcelona, which is seen as a top contender for both LaLiga and the Champions League this season.

Yamal on comparisons to Messi

Despite the accolades and comparisons, Yamal remains grounded. In an interview with Diario Marca, the young forward admitted feeling uncomfortable when compared to Messi. “It’s an honor, but I’m trying to write my own story. Messi is the greatest of all time, and I’m still taking my first steps. Sometimes those comparisons don’t help,” Yamal shared.

In addition to recognizing Messi as the GOAT, Yamal revealed that two Brazilian legends inspire his style. “Neymar and Ronaldinho, mainly because of their fun approach and their way of living the game,” he continued. “They’re always trying something new”.

It’s clear that Yamal’s admiration for creative and unpredictable play mirrors his on-field persona. His skill set, verticality, and knack for improvisation are already earning him a reputation as as one of soccer’s most exciting young talents.