Lionel Messi has named one young star from this season’s Champions League who is already ‘one of the best players in the world’.
One of Arsenal, Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona or Inter Milan will be crowned European champions this season after the four clubs booked their place in the semi-finals.
In particular, it has been an excellent competition for both of Messi’s former clubs, PSG and Barcelona, who have impressed with their respective brands of free-flowing, attacking football.
Bara have looked especially dominant under the tutelage of Hansi Flick, with the Spanish side easing past Borussia Dortmund to set up a final-four clash with Inter.
Former Leeds United winger Raphinha has understandably stolen the headlines having notched up 12 goals and seven assists in this year’s tournament alone.
But Messi was keen to shine a light on the performances of Yamine Lamal who continues to demonstrate levels of composure and consistency well beyond his years.
The 17-year-old has an impressive 14 goals and 22 assists in all competitions this season, with Messi under no doubt that the teenager is already one of the world’s best.
‘What Lamine Yamal is showing is very impressive, not only what he’s doing but what he’s already done, being a Euro champion with Spain,’ Messi told Simplemente Fútbol.
‘He’s only 17 years old, he’s still early in his growth process and will continue to grow as a player and bringing new things to his game, just as I did.
‘He has incredible qualities and is already one of the best players in the world.’
Yamal’s talents were on full show on Saturday, too, as the winger helped mastermind Barcelona’s remarkable comeback against Celta Vigo.
The teenager sent in a delicious cross for Raphinha to head home Barca’s equaliser after they had fallen 3-1 behind to a Borja Iglesias hat-trick before the Brazilian then popped up with the winner in added time to help move Flick’s side seven points clear of Real Madrid with six games to play.
Barcelona face Mallorca in midweek before Saturday’s Copa del Rey final against Real. Attention then turns back to the Champions League and their semi-final first leg against Inter.
And Yamal will no doubt head into that European game full of confidence, with Inter centre-back Alessandro Bastoni admitting his side are unsure as to how they will stop the teenager over two legs.
‘Individually, we’re not as strong as the other three semi finalists, but as a team we can beat any of them,’ Bastoni told Gazzetta dello Sport.’
‘I don’t know [how we plan for Lamine Yamal]. The last time I faced him, in the Euros, we [Italy] didn’t do so well against him.
‘Barcelona are a team with a very clear identity and we have to defend as a team against them.’
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