Barcelona Prodigy Lamine Yamal Becomes Youngest UCL Star to Surpass Messi and Ronaldo

Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal continues to impress at a tender age, drawing comparisons to greats Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

The 17-year-old continued his rapid ascent as a teenager on Wednesday—one that not even Messi or Ronaldo can match.

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The Spanish international was a crucial player as Barcelona were held to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of their Champions League clash on Wednesday at the Camp Nou.

Yamal scored the opener as the Spanish giants came from behind twice.

Yamal became Barcelona's youngest-ever La Liga player at just 15 and is also the youngest to both score and assist in La Liga.

He has also set Champions League records as the youngest player to start a match and the youngest to score in the knockout stages—including the quarter-finals and now the semi-finals with Wednesday's strike.

For Spain, Yamal is the youngest player and goalscorer in both national team history and European Championship history.

In contrast, football legends Messi and Ronaldo didn’t make their international debuts until they were 18. Yamal, however, won Euro 2024 just a day after turning 17.

Yamal's heroics have earned comparisons to greats—especially former Barcelona star Messi, who also came through the academy just like Yamal.

The youngster has responded to the Lionel Messi comparisons, stating, "I don't compare myself to him, because I don't compare myself to anyone - and much less with Messi," as quoted by BBC Sports

"I don't think the comparison makes sense, with Messi even less - I'm going to enjoy myself, and be myself," he added.

Messi, who was just as impressive in his tender years, is considered not just Barcelona's greatest player but the greatest footballer of all time alongside Ronaldo.

When the Argentine left in 2021, the Spanish giants struggled to fill the void he left but now seem to have found their new go-to man in the 17-year-old.

The Spaniard will be crucial for Hansi Flick and his charges as they aim for the treble, having already won the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid while being in pole position to clinch the La Liga title—with a crucial Champions League return leg against Inter Milan on the horizon.