Is ‘dangerous’ Lamine Yamal the best player in the world right now?

Lamine Yamal helped Barcelona clinch the Copa del Rey trophy this season (Picture: Getty)

Lamine Yamal is aiming to continue his incredible football trajectory in Barcelona’s Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan tonight.

The 17-year-old winger was compared to Lionel Messi and hailed as the best player in the world after the 3-3 first leg draw in Catalonia last week.

Yamal has already broken records in the sport but is he already better than the likes of Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe and Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah?

Here’s why the ‘dangerous’ Spain international teenager is being put in the same bracket as Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Diego Maradona and Pele…

What makes Lamine Yamal so special?

Yamal has only played a total of 120 matches for club and country to date but his exceptional football intelligence has blown away pundits, fans, managers and players.

He is known for his remarkable dribbling skills, ability to create big chances and his quick and effective decision-making in key moments.

He was part of the Spain team that beat England in the Euro 2024 final (Picture: Getty)

Yamal, who played a major role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph, has also built a reputation for precise passing, superb crossing and excellent shooting.

In his opening 100 games for Barcelona, Yamal conjured up 55 goal involvements, the exact same as Messi across his first 100 matches.

Yamal, the youngest player ever nominated for the Ballon d’Or, landed the prestigious Golden Boy award last year as well as the Kopa Trophy.

‘Lamine Yamal is a talent that is born once every 50 years’

Lamine Yamal has already broken a number of football records (Picture: Getty)

Yamal has been widely praised since his breakthrough, particularly this season, with even opposition managers lauding his fine performances.

Speaking after his side drew 3-3 with Barcelona last week, Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi said Yamal was a ‘talent that is born once every 50 years’.

Ahead of the Champions League semi-final second leg, Inzaghi added: ‘We need to keep him away from the ball, but it’s impossible.

‘Whether that is a double marking job or one player following him closely, we will try to always pay attention to him. He’s such a great talent at 17.

‘Seeing him live, he’s so dangerous. Everyone gives him the ball. What impressed me was his speed of thought, he’s such a quick thinker. Even before receiving the ball, he always knows what move to make.’

How many goals has Lamine Yamal scored this season for Barcelona?

Lamine Yamal has played 101 games for Barcelona to date (Picture: Getty)

Yamal has scored 15 goals and provided 24 assists (39 goal involvements) across 50 games this season for Barcelona in all competitions.

He is hoping the win the La Liga title with current league leaders Barcelona, with 20 goal involvements in 31 Spain top-flight matches this term.

Yamal has already landed the Copa del Rey trophy this season, scoring twice and registering six assists in five matches of the cup competition.

In the Champions League, Yamal has nine goal involvements (five goals and four assists) across 12 games in the current 2024-25 campaign.

What football records has Lamine Yamal already broken?

He’s the youngest player to score and assist in a Champions League game (Picture: Getty) Youngest player nominated for the Ballon d’Or Youngest player to start a La Liga game Youngest goalscorer in the Spanish top-flight Youngest Champions League starter in history Youngest player to score and assist in a Champions League game Youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final Youngest player to represent and score for Spain Youngest player to feature and score in the European Championship Youngest player to appear in the European Championship final

Lamine Yamal’s key breakthrough moments

Yamal has enjoyed several breakthrough moments – shining in El Clasico matches with arch rivals Real Madrid – as well as for Spain at Euro 2024.

He scored in the 4-0 La Liga win over Real Madrid earlier this season and again in the Supercopa de España, helping Barcelona clinch the trophy.

Yamal also provided two assists in Barcelona’s 3-2 Copa del Rey final win over Real Madrid last month.

At Euro 2024, with champions Spain, Yamal was crowned Young Player of the Tournament.

Lamine Yamal ‘might be better’ than Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is widely considered to be the greatest footballer of all time (Picture: Getty)

Thierry Henry has suggested that Yamal ‘might be better’ than Messi – despite the Argentine being considered the greatest footballer of all time.

Speaking on CBS Sports after Barcelona’s 3-3 draw with Inter, Jamie Carragher said watching Yamal was like ‘watching Messi in his heyday’.

Henry then appeared to go one step further and said: ‘We can talk about a lot of guys who are supposed to be on the throne and whatnot.

‘But one thing that amazes me about football is that you always think there is no way someone is going to be better – or might be better – than Messi and Ronaldo.

‘Or in my time, Pele or Maradona… And then Yamal arrives.’