Lamine Yamal: 'Incredible' to see Lionel Messi still starring at World Cup

Lamine Yamal: 'Incredible' to see Lionel Messi still starring at World Cup

Spain winger Lamine Yamal has expressed deep admiration for Lionel Messi, calling it incredible to witness the 39-year-old Argentina captain maintain such a high level of performance during the 2026 World Cup. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo, the 18-year-old noted that while the world knows Messi's greatness, few expected him to dominate the tournament in this fashion.

Messi has served as the focal point for Argentina, scoring eight goals in five matches to lead the race for the Golden Boot. His run includes a hat-trick against Algeria—his first ever in a World Cup—and a goal and assist in a 3-2 Round of 16 comeback victory over Egypt. With these performances, Messi has scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches dating back to the 2022 triumph in Qatar and has reached a total of 21 World Cup goals, surpassing the record previously held by Miroslav Klose.

Yamal, who inherited Messi's iconic number 10 shirt at Barcelona last season, views the veteran not as competition but as a role model. In separate comments to RTVE, Yamal stated that Messi is proving why he is the best player ever and is showing doubters they were wrong.

The Spanish star's own campaign has been shaped by a recovery from injury. Yamal arrived at the tournament with a hamstring injury and spent nearly two months on the sidelines. After starting the campaign on the bench, he was drafted in for the second group stage match against Saudi Arabia, where he scored. Although he played the full 90 minutes in a win over Portugal, he has managed only one goal in five matches and no assists.

Yamal admitted to being his own biggest critic, stating:

"I think I can do better. I am very hard on myself. I am not satisfied with what I do. I have never been the best player in the group stage. I am not worried about that. I know I have opportunities to prove it. The closer the important matches get, the semifinals or the final, the better I play,"

Lamine Yamal, via Mundo Deportivo

Beyond Messi, Yamal reflected on other idols who shaped his childhood, specifically Neymar and Cristiano Ronaldo, both of whom saw their international careers end during this tournament. Ronaldo, 41, made his final World Cup appearance in a 1-0 loss to Spain. He exits as the only player to score in six different World Cups and remains the all-time leader in international appearances (233) and goals (146). Neymar, 34, retired from international football following Brazil's Round of 16 exit against Norway; he had not played for Brazil since October 2023 due to injuries before returning for this tournament.

While Yamal expressed that anything good that happens to them is good for him, he remained competitive regarding the tournament's outcome, stating that if he makes it to the final, he wants to win it.

The potential for a showdown between the two Barcelona figures remains. Before the 2026 World Cup, Spain and Argentina were scheduled to meet in the Finalissima, but the match was canceled due to a lack of logistical agreement. Now, both teams have reached the quarterfinals. Because they are on opposite sides of the bracket, they can only meet in the final.

The road to a potential final clash involves the following matchups:

• Spain: Must defeat Belgium on July 10 in Inglewood, California. A victory would set up a semifinal against either France or Morocco.
• Argentina: Must defeat Switzerland on July 11. A victory would lead to a semifinal match against either Norway or England.

Currently, France has reclaimed the top spot in the FIFA Rankings ahead of Argentina as the tournament enters the quarterfinal stage.