“ My teammate is the second best player in the world – only Lionel Messi is better ''

Barcelona Gavi midfielder thinks his teammate Lamine Yamal is one of the best players in the world, placing him just behind the legendary Lionel Messi. The teenage winger experienced a summer in small groups at Euro 2024 and continued to shine for the Catalan club.

Despite the form of barcelona of the trembling league since November, who sees them attending the Liga third, they were great in the cup competitions. The Hansi Flick team is second in the Champions League table and burst into the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey with a 5-1 battery from Real Betis.

While Barcelona's attack has names like Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, Yamal turned his head with her performance. After winning the euros with Spain, the 17 -year -old scored nine goals and 12 assists in 27 appearances for Barcelona. After his sparkling performance against Betis, Gavi could not help mentioning the legend of Club Messi.

“For me, he is the best in the world, just behind Messi,” Gavi told Sport, but he was quick to reject direct comparisons. “Lamin is very good, the best for the moment. But it's silly to compare it with Messi because there will be only one.

“Messi is unique. Just as there will be only one Xavi, an Iniesta or a Busquets. We have to make our own way. Blade is the best right now, and I hope he will continue like that. “”

Yamal's career seems to be on an unstoppable ascending trajectory, confirmed by the defender of Barcelona Pau Cubarsi, who added: “I appreciated the Lamine for many years, and now everyone has appreciated it.”

The link between Yamal and Messi is apparently essential. Pose in a photo session with Messi as an infant to the management of his un icing. 10 Jersey, the traces of Yamal retrace those of the graduate of the Masia. Messi himself recognized the resemblance, professing that Yamal is the footballer who most reflects his younger me.

“There is a very good generation of young footballers who have many years ahead of them,” he said in December. “If I have to choose someone, because of the age and because of the future he has, I heard that he had chosen the Lamine Yamal and without a doubt [it’s him] For me too.

“I agree that it depends on him and a lot because that's how football is, but he is the present and undoubtedly has a huge future.”