Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has renewed his admiration for Lionel Messi, insisting that no player outperformed the Argentine legend at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The Yamal praises Messi comments also followed a personal call in which the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner reportedly offered the teenager encouragement after a difficult night.
Yamal shared the messages in separate Facebook posts on Tuesday. He praised Messi’s performances at the tournament and thanked him for reaching out with words of support.
“No player was better than Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup!” the Spain international wrote.
Yamal Praises Messi for His Support
In another post, the Barcelona forward expressed gratitude to Messi for checking on him and offering encouragement.
“A big thank you to Leo Messi. Goat!” Yamal wrote.
He added that Messi’s call and supportive words meant a great deal to him, particularly after what he described as a difficult night.
The teenager ended his message by expressing appreciation, love and respect for the Argentine icon.
Yamal did not explicitly say that the Ballon d’Or ceremony prompted Messi’s call. However, his comments came after Monday’s awards event in London, where he finished third in the rankings, according to the report.
England captain Harry Kane reportedly won the award, while France forward Kylian Mbappe finished second.
Messi and Yamal’s World Cup Connection
The Yamal praises Messi remarks also reflect the young Spaniard’s admiration for the former Argentina international following the World Cup.
Yamal had earlier celebrated Messi’s contribution to the tournament after Argentina finished runners-up to Spain, the report stated.
Messi’s influence on younger footballers has remained a major talking point, particularly among players who grew up watching his achievements at club and international level.
Yamal, who plays for Barcelona, has repeatedly spoken warmly about the Argentine great. His latest message highlighted both Messi’s footballing ability and his personal gesture of support.
Ballon d’Or Night Draws Attention
Yamal’s posts attracted attention following the ceremony, with the teenager sharing several messages about Messi after the event.
Although the Barcelona forward described the night as difficult, he did not directly connect that experience to his position in the Ballon d’Or rankings.
His public appreciation instead focused on Messi’s World Cup performances and the encouragement he received from the veteran star.
The reported exchange offers another glimpse into the respect between two generations of footballers, with Yamal continuing to acknowledge Messi’s influence on the game.