Almeyda Names Lamine Yamal World’s Best Ahead Of Barcelona Vs Sevilla

Sevilla manager Matías Almeyda has heaped praise on Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, describing the 18-year-old winger as the best player in the world ahead of their La Liga clash.

Barcelona will host Sevilla at Camp Nou on Sunday, aiming to recover from a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 tie. While the Catalan side enter as clear favourites, Almeyda emphasized that their strength extends beyond Yamal.

Speaking ahead of the match, the Argentine coach singled out the youngster for his rapid development. “Currently, he is among the best in the world; he is young and gets better every day. For me, he is the best player in the world today. It is a joy to see him play, but he is not their only talent. They have another in midfield, and even more on the bench,” Almeyda said.

The Sevilla coach also acknowledged the challenge his team faces at Camp Nou, highlighting Barcelona’s consistency in both domestic and European competitions. “Barcelona, even when fatigued, consistently performs at an outstanding level from any viewpoint. The match will differ from the home game,” he noted. “We will attempt to replicate similar strategies, but we are also conscious that it has been 23 and a half years since we last triumphed there. Some of the players have never experienced it. We are going to face the best team in La Liga and one of the best in Europe.”

Despite his age, Yamal has quickly established himself as one of football’s brightest stars. The Spain international finished runner-up in last season’s Ballon d’Or voting and continues to impress this term, recording 20 goals and 15 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions.