Barcelona midfielder Gavi believes that Lionel Messi is still the best footballer in the world, with his teammate Lamine Yamal coming in second.
Lionel Messi left European football years ago to play in the United States, and his name was absent from the shortlist of 30 players for the recent Ballon d’Or race. However, these realities don’t seem to matter to Gavi. According to him, Messi remains the best, and right after him, it’s Barcelona’s young talent, Lamine Yamal.
Yamal is one of the most talked-about young talents in football today. Since his debut at Barcelona, he has shown incredible skills and consistency, quickly becoming an integral part of the team. He has also earned his place in the Spanish national team. The 17-year-old winger started the new year on a high, delivering excellent performances, first in the Spanish Super Cup final and then in the Copa del Rey match on Wednesday.
Barcelona cruised to a 5-1 win against Real Betis, reaching the Copa del Rey quarter-finals. Yamal contributed with two assists and scored the final goal, although his earlier goal was ruled offside.
This marks his ninth goal of the season, alongside 13 assists.
But Yamal’s impact isn’t just about goals and assists. His presence on the field, exquisite passing, and ability to terrorize opposing defenses have showcased his immense talent consistently.
In this match against Betis, Gavi opened the scoring. After the big win, he was asked if Yamal had already become the world’s best player. Gavi quickly replied, “Yes, he’s the best…” before adding, “Well… after Lionel Messi, he’s the best.”
Yamal made a significant contribution to Spain’s Euro victory last year and finished eighth in the Ballon d’Or race. He also won the ‘Golden Boy’ award for the best young player and the Copa Trophy.
At just 17 years old, Yamal has already played over 70 matches for Barcelona.
When later asked about Gavi’s comments, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick agreed but also issued a note of caution.
“You know, Gavi is a bit emotional,” Flick said. “So yes, I agree (Yamal is the best after Messi). It’s clear for everyone to see. Big talents usually shine in big matches, and Yamal has done that many times already. He’s on a great path, but we need to take good care of him.”
