Following in Lionel Messi's footsteps! Barcelona legend reveals Lamine Yamal will copy Argentine superstar by ditching No.19 shirt to take famed No.10 with Blaugrana

At 17, the Spanish sensation continues to mesmerise audiences across the world. Yamal had a breakthrough year with Barcelona and Spain in the 2023-24 season and he already has 26 goal contributions to his name, including 10 goals in 29 appearances, across all competitions in the current campaign.

Blaugrana legend Rivaldo has spoken highly of the teenage sensation as he heaped praise on the player's abilities on the pitch at a tender age. The Brazil icon also predicted that Yamal would follow in Messi's footsteps and ditch the No. 19 shirt soon to take up the iconic No. 10. The Spain international has often been compared to the Argentine superstar due to his style and early promise.

Speaking to SPORT, Rivaldo said: "He plays like he’s 25 years old, with a lot of experience, and he plays with ease. It has already been said that next season he will wear the number 10 shirt. With the personality he has, I’m sure he will soon be a candidate for best player in Europe and the world.

"He’s a player I admire, I like his style of play. He’s a jewel of Barcelona, a boy who deserves all the good things he’s achieving because of the person he is. You can see that he’s humble, he hasn’t let fame or money go to his head, and I really admire players who have that kind of attitude."

The Catalan giants will be back in action on Thursday as they take on Valencia in the quarter-final of Copa del Rey.