Spanish star Lamine Yamal was quick to praise Lionel Messi's sensational start to the 2026 World Cup. Scoring a resounding hat-trick against Algeria, the eternal Argentinian number 10 proved that, at 39, his genius remains undiminished. However, alongside his praise, the young Barcelona prodigy made a point of reminding everyone who truly inspired him as a fan.

Messi, the "greatest of all time" without debate

For Lamine Yamal, the debates about who is the greatest player of all time are over. When asked about the Albiceleste striker's latest masterclass, the Spanish international was categorical:

"Every game he plays proves he's the greatest player in history. If some people still have doubts, it's because they're deliberately looking for them. There's nothing more to add."

Neymar remains his absolute idol

While his respect for Messi is immense, Yamal made a revelation that surprised some fans, who often assume a direct lineage between the two left-footed Barça players. His true stylistic inspiration is Neymar.

1. He made his position clear: "My idol is Neymar, but Messi is the greatest of all time," he declared.
2. No contradiction: For the young Spaniard, one can venerate the magic and creativity of the Brazilian while recognizing the statistical and historical supremacy of the Argentinian.

Yamal's goal: to imitate the master

Inspired by Messi's hat trick, Lamine Yamal also harbors high ambitions for the 2026 World Cup. Although he failed to find the net three times in Spain's opening match against Cape Verde, the young winger hasn't lost sight of his goal. Determined to make history in this tournament, he intends to take advantage of Spain's upcoming matches to produce his own memorable moment. To be continued.