Not Lamine Yamal: Inter Milan star Marcus Thuram names the two greatest players in the world

Inter Milan forward Marcus Thuram delivered a standout performance in the thrilling 3-3 draw against Barcelona in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals. Thuram, who scored a stunning backheel goal just 30 seconds into the match, shared his thoughts on the exceptional rise of Barcelona’s 17-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal, offering a statement that sparked debate.

While Thuram was a key player in the clash, Yamal also dazzled, using his dribbling and flair to consistently breach Inter’s staunch defensive setup. The young winger added a brilliant goal to his performance, cementing his reputation as one of the game’s most exciting talents despite his youth.

However, when asked post-match whether Yamal was the best player in the world right now, Thuram was unequivocal in his response: “No, not at all,” the son of French World Cup champion Lilian Thuram stated firmly.

He elaborated further: “The best player in the world is French, and the second-best player is also French. They are Ousmane (Dembele) and Kylian (Mbappe)”. While Yamal didn’t make Thuram’s top two, the French forward did acknowledge his remarkable talent, adding, “Yamal is, perhaps, the third”.

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona is challenged by Federico Dimarco of FC Internazionale during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Semi Final First Leg match. (Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Thuram’s message to Dimarco on stopping Yamal

Yamal’s exceptional abilities were on full display, as he repeatedly outmaneuvered Inter’s Federico Dimarco, one of Europe’s top left-backs. Despite his defensive quality, Dimarco struggled to contain the Spanish phenom.

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Reflecting on Yamal’s impact, Thuram revealed a motivational moment shared with his teammate: “I encouraged Dimarco. I told him it’s normal for Yamal to get past us—that he always will, no matter what we do. But we couldn’t give up and had to keep exhausting him. You can’t stop players like him alone; it takes a team effort. Maybe even eleven-on-one”.

Second-leg Champions League semifinal showdown set for May 6

The decisive second leg between Inter Milan and Barcelona will take place on Tuesday, May 6, at the iconic Giuseppe Meazza Stadium. The winner will advance to the Champions League final, where Arsenal or Paris Saint-Germain awaits. In the event of a draw, the match will proceed to extra time and, if necessary, penalties.