‘And then Yamal arrives..' : World Cup winner Thierry Henry hails Lamine Yamal amid comparisons with Messi and Ronaldo

Indian Express

01-05-2025

As Barcelona played a 3-3 draw against Inter-Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final at Olympic Stadium, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to score a goal in a Champions League semi-final with his opening goal for the Spanish's side's come from behind show in the semi-final. With Barcelona trailing by two goals in the match, Yamal scored the first goal in the team's 3-3 draw to create history. Former France striker and World Cup winner Thierry Henry has showered praise on the young Spanish international and terming him as the next best player in the football world and even better than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
'We can talk about a lot of guys who are supposed to be on the throne and whatnot. But one thing that amazes me about football is that you always think there is no way someone is going to be better – or might be better – than Messi and (Cristiano) Ronaldo. Or in my time, Pele or (Diego) Maradona… And then Yamal arrives,' Henry told CBS Sports post the match.
Yamal also became the second youngest player at the age of 17 years and 291 days on Wednesday to start in a Champions League semi-final. The earlier record was held by Julian Draxler, who holds the record for playing in a Champions League Semi-final at an age of 17 years and 226 days playing for Schalke 04 against Manchester United in 2011. Yamal had earlier became the youngest player to score in both a Champions league round of 16 tie and quarterfinal during Barcelona's campaign this year. Yamal's goal was also his 20th goal in his 100 appearances at the club level. 'What I witnessed tonight from Lamine Yamal … it's not normal to be like that at 17. I am not talking about what he does when he's on the ball, his awareness, how calm he is, how he sees the game, the way he will defend, put pressure. It's just not normal. We talked about the 100 games that he already has at that age. It's just stupid, really. I don't even know what I'm watching, what I'm witnessing, but he played like a man possessed, and when I say 'a man,' he's not even a man yet, technically. It's just not normal.' Henry said during the UEFA Champions League Today post-match show.
As compared to Messi and Ronaldo, Yamal has a total of 50 goals and assists in his first 100 matches at the club level. Messi had a tally of 56 goals and assists (41 goals and 15 assists) while Ronaldo had a tally of 27 goals and assists (13 goals and 14 assists) in their first 100 matches at the club level. Yamal has achieved the feat of playing 100 matches at the club level at the age of 17 years and 291 days with Messi and Ronaldo achieving the same feat at the age of 20 years and 248 days and 19 years and 348 days respectively.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick too was in praise for the young star. 'I think he's special. I said it often before, he's a genius. During the game, when I look at the match from the outside, it's not like when you see after. You see all the details and it is unbelievable how he does it. At 17 years old, he's an unbelievable player and for me the important thing is he keeps going,' Flick said post the match.