'Messi was the best, now it's Yamal' - Laporta claims it is Barcelona star's turn to dominate

Lamine Yamal officially inherited the iconic No. 10 jersey at Barcelona, following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi.

The No. 10 jersey at Barcelona is more than a number—it’s a symbol of genius, worn by legends like Johan Cruyff and Ronaldinho.

Joan Laporta has drawn a comparison between club icon Lionel Messi and emerging talent Lamine Yamal. 

The Barcelona president hailed Messi as the greatest player in history while identifying Yamal as currently the best.

"Lamine is Lamine, and Messi was Messi. Leo was the best player in the world, and right now I think Lamine is the best. We'll see how far he can go. Lamine has a strong character, just like Messi did in his early years.

"He also stands out with his surprisingly early maturity, similar to Leo. Of course, Messi won everything and did everything. In my opinion, he's probably the best player in history. The world moves on, and new geniuses emerge, like Lamine, Pedri, Raphinha…

"These are very talented players in the world of football. I mentioned Barcelona players, but of course, there are fantastic players in other teams too. Lamine is one of those rare players because he's a genius and is at the highest level.

"We have to protect him, provide him with stability, and not burden him with expectations. He has a unique talent, and it's our duty to take care of him," Laporta told CNN, via Sportal.