‎Who's better than Lamine Yamal? Marcus Thuram reveals his top picks

‎Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal delivered a performance for the ages on Wednesday night, inspiring his side to a pulsating 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League. At just 17 years old, the prodigious winger demonstrated composure, flair, and attacking menace beyond his years, scoring a breathtaking goal and tormenting the Inter defence from start to finish.

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‎'Lamine Yamal.'

‎Getty Images Sport 

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‎Inter had raced to a 2-0 lead at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, but Yamal’s brilliance sparked a spirited Barcelona comeback. His goal, a solo effort showcasing his dribbling and precise finishing, was a moment of pure class that ignited the home crowd and changed the tone of the match.

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‎“He's special, he's a genius,” Barcelona head coach Hansi Flick told BBC Sport after the final whistle. “In the big matches, he shows up. If this kind of talent only comes around every 50 years, I’m glad it’s for Barcelona.”

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‎Inter manager Simone Inzaghi, one of world football’s top-rated tacticians, echoed Flick’s admiration. “We could even have won this game, but he [Yamal] created a lot of problems. He’s a player I had not seen live before—what a phenomenon.”

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‎Yamal’s performance drew comparisons to Lionel Messi, with CBS Sports pundit Micah Richards declaring him the finest teenage talent since the Argentine icon. "The best 17-year-old I’ve seen since Messi,” Richards said on air.

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‎While Inter forward Marcus Thuram was less convinced of Yamal’s top-ranking status—stating, “The best player in the world is French… and the second best too”—he still ranked the Spaniard as third-best globally, behind compatriots Ousmane Dembele and Kylian Mbappe.

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‎Indeed, the numbers speak volumes. As of April 30 in all competitions this season:

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‎ • Mbappe: 50 appearances | 33 goals | 4 assists

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‎ • Dembele: 45 appearances | 33 goals | 12 assists

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‎ • Yamal: 49 appearances | 15 goals | 24 assists

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‎Considering his age and influence, Yamal’s impact is astonishing. While some debate whether he is the very best in the world yet, few doubt that he is on a trajectory toward football immortality.

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‎In a sport known for fleeting greatness and enduring legends, Lamine Yamal is already bridging the two. His Champions League performance didn’t just rescue a point—it announced the arrival of a generational genius.