Yamal: “Messi Is The Greatest Ever, I Want To Follow In His Footsteps

According to Ireporter Online, Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has hailed Inter Miami captain Lionel Messi as the greatest footballer of all time, describing the Argentine legend’s achievements as unmatched and globally respected.

Yamal made the remarks on Monday, April 20, shortly after being named Best Young Athlete at the 2026 Laureus World Sports Awards in Madrid. The Spanish international expressed deep admiration for Messi, stating that the former Barcelona star stands above all other footballers due to his extraordinary career accomplishments.

He noted that Messi’s legacy in the sport commands universal respect and added that he hopes to build a career worthy of following in the footsteps of the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.

“Leo Messi is the best football player of all time. If he’s not the best athlete of all time, he is certainly among them,” Yamal said. “Everyone respects him for what he has achieved, and I hope I can follow in his footsteps.”

Messi, widely regarded as one of football’s greatest icons, remains the most decorated player in the history of the game, with over 45 major trophies to his name, including multiple domestic league titles, continental honours, and the FIFA World Cup triumph with Argentina. At 38, he is nearing the final phase of his playing career, with expectations that he could feature in what may be his last World Cup appearance this summer.

In a separate development, Egyptian forward Mohamed Salah has spoken about his desire to conclude his Liverpool career in a positive manner following his decisive performance in their 2-1 Merseyside derby victory over Everton at Anfield.

Salah opened the scoring in the tightly contested encounter, registering his ninth goal in the derby and equalling Steven Gerrard as Liverpool’s joint-highest scorer in the fixture. Despite an inconsistent season, the Egyptian forward continues to play a crucial role in Liverpool’s push for a top-four finish and UEFA Champions League qualification.

Speaking after the match, Salah emphasized the importance of finishing his Liverpool journey on a high note while helping the team secure European football.

“I hope I will just keep scoring and help the team to achieve the Champions League this season. Hopefully, I say farewell in the right way,” Salah said.

He added that the victory was vital for the team’s confidence, noting that Liverpool were aware of the difficulty of the fixture but were pleased to secure all three points.

“I feel great. The most important thing was to help the team settle down and feel more confident. We knew before the game it was going to be tricky, and I’m glad we were able to win it,” he added.