Why Lamine Yamal isn't 'the best' despite 'haven't seen Lionel Messi do that' praise for Barcelona wonderkid from Real Madrid legend

At just 17 years of age, Barcelona wonderkid Yamal is already an established senior star at domestic and international level. He is a European Championship winner with Spain while boasting Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy awards on a glittering CV.

The teen sensation is being tipped to reach the very top of the game, winning Ballons d’Or along the way as he follows in the footsteps of fellow La Masia academy graduate Messi. There are, however, areas of his game that he can improve while heading down that path.

Blancos icon Guti admits as much, telling Mundo Deportivo when asked to assess the hottest of prospects: "He's light years ahead of what I did. The best? What does being the best mean? Being the best means being the best every single match, and he's not the best every single match.

"It happens to him like Kylian [Mbappe], like Vinicius [Junior]... He has a tremendous talent, and we often talk about how he doesn't score, but the fact is that with the passes he makes, he decides the game. He's a player who decides the game with one play."

Guti added on the comparisons being made between Yamal and a certain Argentine GOAT: "I haven't seen Messi do that at that age. He's in the First Division and is a second-year youth player. He's a kid who is currently Barcelona's benchmark."

That talent is allowing Yamal to thrive in a Barca side that continues to chase down La Liga, Copa del Rey and Champions League titles in 2025. He will also be hoping to grace the 2026 World Cup finals next summer and illuminate the grandest of sporting spectacles.