Better than Messi: Lamine Yamal's generational talent is Barcelona's 'boy king' | OneFootball

The 17-year-old has been dubbed a ‘genus’ after starring against Inter Milan

“A phenomenon, born every 50 years,” is how Inter Milan manager Simone Inzaghi described what he had just seen from Lamine Yamal.

Barcelona found themselves 2-0 down at home within 20 minutes, but found inspiration through their 2007-born right-winger.

Picking up the ball on the right, Yamal turned cutely past Marcus Thuram, skipped past Henrikh Mkhitaryan before curling audaciously between the braced bodies of Francesco Acerbi and Alessandro Bastoni and in off the far post, with goalkeeper Yann Sommer rooted.

If it only comes every 50 years like Simone said, I'm glad it's for Barcelona

Hansi Flick

Two minutes later, he flew past Federico Dimarco, one of the best left-backs in the world, chopped back onto his left to send the Italian sliding off the pitch on his backside. Only a fingertip save from the most acute of angles denied Yamal a second.

“I don’t think I have seen a 45 minutes like that from one individual before in my life - it is unbelievable,” declared Ally McCoist on TNT Sports commentary after the first half.

After the break, Yamal’s gorgeous dummy allowed Dani Olmo’s low corner delivery through his legs and afforded Raphinha the space and time to fire in the shot which led to Barca’s equaliser for 3-3.

Inzaghi was even more effusive with his assessment at full-time, underlining the generational talent on show which had just ruined his night.

"Lamine is the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years, and to see him up close really impressed me," he said. "He caused us huge problems because we were supposed to double up on him and it wasn't enough."

Barca boss Hansi Flick responded: "He's special, he's a genius. In the big matches, he shows up. If it only comes every 50 years like Simone said, I'm glad it's for Barcelona."

Lamine Yamal ahead of kick-off

AP

Those comparisons with Lionel Messi will only multiply.

Yamal is already a European champion - the poster boy of Euro 2024 last summer, scorer of a sensational winner against France in the semi-final, the competition’s top assister, and its young player of the tournament. He has won the Copa del Rey, the Spanish Super Cup and La Liga, and will likely win that again this season. Before his 18th birthday, he has achieved what many players dream of achieving in a lifetime.

Not since Messi have Barca fans been able to enjoy watching such a mercurial yet effective player as Yamal represent their beloved club. And the teen’s statistics at this tender age already project a greater career even than that of Messi - for many, the greatest player in the history of the sport.

At 17, Messi had played just club nine games at senior level, scoring once. Cristiano Ronaldo, his long-time rival, had scored five and assisted four in 19 matches.

Yamal has created a category all of his own, his dizzying display against Inter the 100th match of his club career. In that time, he has 22 goals and 33 assists, so has produced more than one goal contribution every two games.

It is frightening to ponder what Yamal could go on to achieve, and his tag as the true successor to Messi seems not to weigh too heavily on his shoulders.