During Barcelona’s pre-season tour in Asia, club president Joan Laporta made headlines with bold statements about rising star Lamine Yamal, calling him the best player in the world right now. Still, he was careful to affirm that Lionel Messi’s legacy remains unmatched.

What did Laporta say about Lamine and Messi?

In an interview with CNN, Laporta was asked about the constant comparisons between Lamine Yamal and Messi. His response was striking:

“Lamine is Lamine Yamal and Lionel Messi was Lionel Messi. Messi has been the best player in the world, and Lamine, I think in the current moment, is the best in the world. We will see.”

Laporta also highlighted Yamal’s personality, drawing parallels to a young Messi:

“Lamine has a lot of personality, just like Messi did in his early days. Of course, Messi won everything. For me, he’s probably the greatest player of all time.”

How did Yamal perform in his latest match?

Laporta’s remarks came after Yamal scored a brace in Barcelona’s 7-3 win over FC Seoul in South Korea. It was his first match wearing Barça’s No. 10 shirt, a symbol loaded with meaning for fans.

After the game, the 17-year-old expressed his excitement:

“It’s a dream to score wearing this shirt and this number, which is very special.”

He also thanked the supporters who followed the team across Asia:

“Thank you so much for the support. We hope this season is a big success and we win a lot of titles.”

Is Yamal the next in line after Messi?

While Laporta avoided direct comparisons, he didn’t hide his admiration for the teenager’s unique talent:

“He’s the kind of player you rarely see—because he’s a genius and already at the highest level.”

At just 17 years old, Lamine Yamal is not only thrilling Barcelona fans, but also earning praise from the very top of the club. Many now wonder: Could he write his own chapter in the club’s history?