Lamine Yamal snubs Neymar when naming his dream summer signing for Barcelona & picks Lionel Messi over Cristiano Ronaldo as 'best current athlete' in football

Yamal made his preference clear when it comes to naming the best active athlete in football, with the Barcelona teenager choosing Messi over his Portuguese rival Ronaldo. His admiration for Messi comes as no surprise, given his upbringing in Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy. The young winger joined the club’s youth ranks at just six years old in 2014, the same year the Blaugrana clinched the Champions League title with Messi, Neymar, and Luis Suárez forming the iconic ‘MSN’ attacking trio.

When asked by Mundo Deportivo to name the best current athlete in world football, the Barcelona wonderkid replied in one word: "Messi."

Despite also idolising Neymar during his childhood, Yamal did not select the Brazilian as his ideal signing when asked to pick one player to bring to Barcelona this summer. Instead, he opted for Bayern Munich’s Jamal Musiala.

"You want me to say Neymar… but no: Musiala, who has a contract," he stated.

The 17-year-old also provided insights into his daily life and challenges as a professional footballer. When asked what he finds more difficult between gym workouts and maintaining a diet, he admitted that the two go hand in hand but ultimately singled out dieting as the tougher aspect.

Yamal, who has previously mentioned an interest in cooking, was also quizzed on his go-to dish. His response was: “French fries with chicken nuggets. It's the easiest!”

As one of the most high-profile teenagers in football, Yamal’s life has drastically changed since breaking into the first team. When asked what he misses most from his previous life before fame, he pointed out the simple joys of everyday activities. "Being able to go to a park for a walk or to Granollers," he said, referencing his hometown in Catalonia.

Yamal has been a standout performer for Barcelona this season, registering five goals and 10 assists in 21 La Liga appearances. His performances have been crucial for Hansi Flick’s side, and he will aim to add to his tally when Barcelona face Las Palmas in their next league fixture.