Barcelona’s teenage sensation, Lamine Yamal, has once again shared his admiration for two of football’s most iconic players — Lionel Messi and Neymar. For Yamal, they are not just legends of the game, but figures who shaped his own footballing perspective and inspired his rise in the sport.
Speaking about Messi, Yamal made it clear that there is no debate when it comes to the Argentine’s greatness. Messi’s seven Ballon d’Or titles already stand as proof of his dominance across more than a decade at the very top. Yamal admires how Messi combined genius with consistency, cementing himself as the greatest of his generation. Yet, even with Messi’s unmatched collection of awards, Yamal believes there is another name who should have been recognized at least once.
That name is Neymar. Yamal expressed that, in his eyes, Neymar absolutely deserved to win a Ballon d’Or during his prime. He pointed to Neymar’s electric years at Barcelona, where he formed part of the legendary MSN trio alongside Messi and Luis Suárez, as well as his dazzling spells at Paris Saint-Germain. According to Yamal, Neymar’s impact on football went far beyond statistics — he was a showman, a genius with the ball, and someone who could turn a match on its head in a single moment of brilliance.
Yamal added that if Neymar had been at his peak during the current footballing era, with the way awards and recognition are now distributed, he would have certainly been crowned the best player in the world. In his view, Neymar brought an artistry and joy to football that is rarely seen, and while Messi collected the Golden Balls, Neymar’s contribution to the sport deserves equal respect.
For Yamal, Neymar represents more than just trophies or awards. He symbolizes creativity, courage, and flair — qualities that make football beautiful and unforgettable. It is this combination of Messi’s historic dominance and Neymar’s unmatched artistry that continues to inspire the young Barcelona prodigy as he writes his own chapter in football’s story.
