Lionel Messi names Lamine Yamal as his successor at Barcelona

The Argentine feels Yamal can go on to become the greatest player of all time.

The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner and world-renowned football player Lionel Messi has witnessed it all.

Icons know when to hand on the torch. That may be too early for the former Barcelona star who is now 37, as he still inspires on the pitch. Nevertheless, Messi is focused on the next generation. Even if his incredible career is probably coming to an end, he has yet to make a call.

Everyone is wondering: Who will continue Messi’s legacy?

The maestro from Argentina offers a solution.

During an Adidas event in Germany, Messi named 17-year-old Barcelona sensation Lamine Yamal as the “present and future” of football while being questioned by famed artist Goke Oyewo.

Like Messi, Yamal graduated from La Masia and has been making waves with his outstanding displays for Barcelona and Spain.

Yamal, who has already made history, has won the European Championship and LaLiga. He was just named the 2024 Golden Boy. Messi saw the teenager as his heir to greatness, not merely a promising young player.

Messi praised Yamal without hesitation when asked who makes him think of his younger self.

“There’s a very good generation of young footballers who have many years ahead of them,” he said. “If I have to choose someone because of their age and future, it’s Lamine Yamal. He’s the present and without a doubt has a huge future.”

There is more to the comparison than merely symbolism. Both players came from Barcelona’s renowned La Masia academy, which is renowned for turning out the best football players.

Lionel Messi sees shades of his younger self in Lamine Yamal 🥹🤝 pic.twitter.com/a1MWRCPJyD

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 13, 2024

Even though Messi’s journey made him probably the best player in history, he thinks Yamal has what it takes to succeed him, provided he stays grounded and focused.

As the youngest player to make his Barcelona LaLiga debut and score a goal, Yamal has already broken many records. Fans are eager to see how far he can go. His level of maturity on the pitch at such a young age has been compared to Messi’s early days.

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