Lionel Messi’s heir!! Barcelona youngster tagged ‘present & future’ of world football

Lionel Messi is considered the greatest football player in history and the Argentine believes fellow La Masia graduate Lamine Yamal is the natural heir to his title.

Messi has been on top of world football since he rose to stardom and has not backed down at the age of 37.

With the Argentine likely to call time on his career anytime soon, Messi has tipped Yamal to take over the baton from him.

Quizzed by renowned artist Goke Oyewo on who reminds him most of himself, with the potential there to become another all-time great, Messi said at an adidas event in Germany: “There’s a very good generation of young footballers who have many years ahead of them.

Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

“If I have to choose someone, because of the age and because of the future that he has, I’ve heard that they have chosen Lamine Yamal and without doubt [it’s him] for me too. I agree it depends on him and many things because that’s how soccer is, but he’s the present and without a doubt has a huge future.”

Messi is expected to play on through to the 2026 World Cup, and there are expectations he will come face to face with Yamal.

Yamal made his senior breakthrough at the age of 16 and has been breaking various records since then. He already has La Liga and European Championship honours to his name, with Barca and Spain, while also landing the prestigious Golden Boy award in 2024.