Lamine Yamal has been hailed as Lionel Messi’s closest player and tipped to become a seven-time Ballon d’Or winner
Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring the opening goal during the opening phase of the Champions League soccer match between Barcelona and Aston Villa in Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Joan Monfort) Barcelona have seen extraordinary talents emerge from La Masia, but the latest prodigy is already attracting comparisons with the greatest player in the club’s history. At just 19, Lamine Yamal has finished among the frontrunners for the Ballon d’Or three times and one former team-mate believes those achievements could be just the beginning. He even hinted that seven wins wouldn’t be a surprise.
Lamine Yamal is the closest player to Messi, says former Barcelona teammate
The assessment comes from 29-year-old Marcus Rashford, who spent last season on loan at Barcelona and had the chance to follow Yamal’s development up close. During a meeting with fans at Old Trafford, the Manchester United forward recalled a conversation he had with the teenager shortly before leaving the Catalan club, when he told him his skills were above those of other gifted players he had come across.“Before I left Barça, I told Lamine Yamal that I played with some very talented players, but that he is head and shoulders above them all,” Rashford said, as quoted by Mundo Deportivo.
Soccer Football – LaLiga – FC Barcelona vs Elche – Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys, Barcelona, Spain – November 2, 2025 FC Barcelona’s Marcus Rashford celebrates scoring the third goal with Lamin Yamal REUTERS/Albert Gea
Rashford’s praise went beyond the usual admiration reserved for a promising young footballer. Having played alongside Yamal, he believes the teenager has a level of natural ability rarely seen at such an early stage in a career, drawing comparisons to Lionel Messi that few players would consider worthy of taking on.“I’ve never seen a player of this age with such talent as him; he’s the closest anyone has come to Messi’s level in years.”Yamal has already finished second, third and eighth in the Ballon d’Or voting, an extraordinary run of results for a player still just 19. Rashford sees those finishes as a sign of what could come, rather than the limits of what the Barcelona striker could achieve.“I really believe in his talent; I won’t be surprised if he wins seven Ballon d’Ors. He’s finished second, third and eighth. And at what age? Nineteen?”
Why Messi remains out of the comparison
For all the parallels Rashford sees between the two Barcelona forwards, he doesn’t believe Yamal or any other player currently emerging can necessarily reproduce Messi’s complete command of the game. His assessment of the Argentine was not so much a comparison between the two players as an acknowledgment of how unusual Messi’s combination of technical ability, creativity and consistency was.“He is an incredible player. We will probably never see another player in our lifetime who is as complete a genius as Leo.”Rashford also discussed the latest Ballon d’Or result and backed Harry Kane as a deserving winner. Kane’s outstanding performance in front of goal, along with his contribution to creating opportunities for his team-mates, has made a strong impression on the United striker.“He’s scored an absurd amount of goals and provided an absurd amount of assists this year. I texted him the other day and told him he deserved it.”
Why Rashford chose Manchester United over another Premier League move
The interview also offered an insight into Rashford’s own career decisions, particularly his determination not to settle for another English club should a return to Manchester United become a possibility.After his time at Barcelona, Rashford reflected on his earlier experiences at Aston Villa and the prospect of continuing his career elsewhere in the Premier League. He explained that playing against United season after season was something he did not fancy, preferring a move abroad if a return to Old Trafford was not an option.“I realized one thing… I couldn’t play against United every season. If United are not an option, I told my agent to take me abroad – don’t take me to another Premier League club,” he said.
Marcus Rashford. (Photo by Reuters)
The decision was not made in isolation. Rashford revealed that he spoke to two figures with considerable Manchester United experience, Rio Ferdinand and Michael Carrick, before committing to his return. Their advice helped him consider what another spell at the club would entail and whether the move was the right move for his career.Both men understand the expectations of playing for United, having experienced different periods in the club’s modern history. Rashford’s talks with them eventually helped convince him that his future lay at Old Trafford rather than with another European side.