Lionel Messi is the greatest player FC Barcelona have ever had, yet a new competitor for the crown could be emerging in Lamine Yamal.
The 17-year-old winger is regarded as the best teenager currently playing in soccer as Yamal last summer guided Spain to Euro 2024 glory in Germany whilst also becoming a regular fixture in Barcelona’s starting XI.
This season has seen Yamal take his talent to new heights with the teenage attacker becoming a talismanic figure for Barcelona under Hansi Flick, with whispers now circulating that the La Masia graduate could be the true heir to Messi’s throne in Catalonia.
Yet Yamal has now admitted that Messi wasn’t his idol when growing up in Barcelona.
Yamal names Neymar over Messi as his soccer idol
Speaking to CNN, the Spanish international named Neymar as his idol growing up over Messi, with the Brazilian international joining Barcelona when Yamal was only seven-years-old, where the winger became a superstar in Europe.
Neymar formed the famed MSN attacking trio at Barcelona alongside Messi and Luis Suarez, with the trio going on to win the treble with the La Liga side and combining to score almost 400 goals across three seasons.
And Yamal admits that it was Neymar who inspired him growing up over Messi, with the Barcelona star saying: “I was five-years-old when I saw him at Santos, but seven-years-old when I saw him in person at FC Barcelona at the Camp Nou.
It was incredible to see him. Yes, it’s true that Messi was there who was also incredible, but he was something totally different. Neymar has always been my idol. He’s a star, a football legend.”
Could Neymar reunite with Messi at Inter Miami?
Neymar, Messi and Suarez are part of soccer folklore after their incredible time together at Barcelona, yet there’s a chance that the trio could reunite this January with the transfer window now open for business.
Indeed, Neymar has said in recent days that he wants to play again with Messi and Suarez, opening the door to a potential move to Inter Miami if the Herons can reach an agreement with the Al-Hilal attacker over a deal this month.
And even though Yamal might have grown up idolizing Neymar over Messi, there’s no denying that the Barcelona teenager has benefited greatly from his education of watching both players during his youth at La Masia.