Even though Barcelona couldn't get past Inter Milan in their bid to return to a Champions League final after 10 years, this knockout round will be remembered for showcasing a rising star: Lamine Yamal, who may become the youngest Ballon d'Or winner in history. David Beckham was so impressed by his performance that he boldly claimed Yamal might be the only player capable of reaching Leo Messi's level.

"Only once every 20 or 30 years does a player like this come along"

The careers of Leo Messi and David Beckham are more connected than they might seem. The English midfielder witnessed the early days of Leo Messi up close during his time at Real Madrid, and ironically, Beckham’s final professional match was against Barcelona while playing for PSG—with Messi on the other side. So he knows exactly how good Messi was at Yamal's age.

Naturally, what matters most for Lamine Yamal isn't just reaching this level at 17—but being able to maintain it over time. That’s something David Beckham believes he can achieve: “He’s the first player you see and think… I mean, you can’t compare anyone to Messi, in my opinion… But he’s the closest I’ve ever seen. Someday, I think he could be as good as Lionel Messi. Only every 20 or 30 years does a player like this appear.”

Lamine Yamal Avoids Comparisons with Messi

Since Xavi Hernández made him the youngest debutant in Barcelona's history, comparisons painting Lamine Yamal as Leo Messi's heir have been constant—especially over the past year, during which he’s broken precociousness records that once seemed untouchable. Still, Lamine Yamal continues to dodge those comparisons with the same ease he uses to glide past defenders on the pitch.

“Being compared to the best in history is incredible, it means you're doing something right. But I try to be myself—I want to be remembered for me. And in the end, being compared to him sets a bar that’s incredibly hard to reach. I just try to be myself and to be remembered as Lamine Yamal,” the young star said before the matchup against Inter Milan.