Question: If you had the opportunity to select either the Qatar 2022 version of Lionel Messi or the current Lamine Yamal to play for your team in an important match, who would you choose?
Ji Dong Kim (FC Seoul coach)
“Without hesitation, I would choose Lionel Messi from the 2022 World Cup. Don’t get me wrong—Lamine Yamal is a phenomenal talent. He’s young, explosive, and already showing glimpses of greatness. But he’s still developing, and right now, he primarily operates as a wide player—hugging the touchline, using his pace and flair to beat defenders and deliver crosses or cut inside to shoot. His role is more direct, more reliant on space and speed.
Messi, on the other hand, is a once-in-a-generation mastermind. What he did in Qatar wasn’t just about scoring goals—it was about orchestrating the entire rhythm of Argentina’s play. He drops deep, pulls defenders out of position, delivers inch-perfect passes, and creates time and space where none exists. He sees the game two or three moves ahead. Messi doesn’t just play in a system—he becomes the system.
He can influence a match without even touching the ball for minutes, simply by his positioning and vision. That level of maturity, control, and influence is something you build over years, and Messi’s World Cup form was a masterclass in leadership, creativity, and composure under pressure. For a decisive match, that kind of presence is priceless. That’s why I would always go with Messi.”
