Barcelona‘s rising star, Lamine Yamal, has made headlines following his recent accolade at the Laureus World Sports Awards, where he was named Best Young Athlete of the Year. The 18-year-old expressed his aspirations to emulate his idol in a response to a journalist’s question regarding the greatest footballer of all time.
Without hesitation, Yamal revealed his choice: Leo Messi. He stated,
“Leo Messi is the greatest footballer of all time and, without a doubt, one of the contenders for the title of greatest athlete ever.
Everyone respects him for what he has achieved, and I hope I can follow in his footsteps,” Yamal admitted.
Messi, a legendary figure in football, spent 16 years with Barcelona from 2005 to 2021, during which he made 778 appearances, scoring 672 goals and providing 303 assists. After departing from Barcelona in 2021, Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain as a free agent.