Lamine Yamal answers Thierry Henry's question on Lionel Messi GOAT comparison

Feargal Brennan

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Lamine Yamal answers Thierry Henry's question on Lionel Messi GOAT comparison image

Barcelona fans are confident on two things as the final weeks of the 2024/25 campaign close in.

Lionel Messi remains the club's iconic GOAT and rising star Lamine Yamal is on course to become a generational talent.

Excitement continues to rocket over just how supremely talented Lamine Yamal is within Hansi Flick's squad despite the Spain international not turning 18 until July.

After playing a critical role in Spain's march to the UEFA Euro 2024 title last summer - only turning 17 a day before the final win over England - Lamine Yamal has stepped up a level for Barcelona this season.

Flick is chasing a potential major trophy treble this season, on the back of already clinching the Copa del Rey crown, and they lead the La Liga rankings by four points with five games left to play.

A thrilling 3-3 UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg draw against Inter Milan means Flick's team need a result in the San Siro second leg on May 6.

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Lamine Yamal's early goal hauled Barcelona back into the game, after conceding two inside the opening 20 minutes, and he dominated the post-match  conversation from all sides.

Flick labelled his No.17 a 'genius' as Simone Inzaghi admitted it took three Inter Milan players to mark him - which only had a limited impact.

As the hype continues to grow, former La Blaugrana star Thierry Henry - who won the UCL with Barcelona in 2009 - believes Lamine Yamal can go on to define a generation.

"It's great to see a new guy on the block who looks like he might dominate football, and I wish that for him, but let's not put him under pressure," as per CBS Sports.

"One thing that amazes me in football is you always think there is nobody better than Ronaldo and Messi, Gullit, Maradona, lots of people, and then Lamine Yamal arrives.

"It's crazy to think that guy is 17 years old, it's just crazy, it's not normal."

Henry's co-anchor and former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher echoed his praise of Lamine Yamal via a bold comparison with Messi's early days at Barcelona.

"It was like watching Messi in his heyday. When he got the ball, the whole game stopped, as people wait to see what he's going to do.

Lamine Yamal of Barcelona

"We always felt Mbappe and Haaland would be the next two [best players to dominate after Messi and Ronaldo]. I don’t think Haaland will ever be that, he’s just an out-and-out goalscorer."

However, Lamine Yamal continued to play down that comparison, as Messi's legacy remains untouched in Catalonia.

"I don't compare myself to him, because I don't compare myself to anyone - and much less with Messi. I'm going to enjoy myself and be myself."

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Feargal Brennan

Feargal is a content producer for The Sporting News. He has been working with TSN since the start of 2022 after stints with Reach, Amazon UK and Squawka in a nomadic career in the football media pyramid. Always with a keen eye on Arteta's 'Reds' and Kenny's Ireland 'Greens' and a 100% five-a-side penalty record.