At the Laureus Awards on April 20, hosted by Novak Djokovic and Eileen Gu, Barcelona’s teenage star Lamine Yamal claimed the inaugural honor after his Euro triumph and domestic treble.

In a post-ceremony chat, he declared Messi the best footballer of all time and hoped to follow his path as a teammate and heir apparent.

In his words: “When you realize an athlete isn’t just a legend of their sport but of all sports, Messi, who for me is the best player in history, and if he isn’t the greatest athlete ever, he’s definitely in that conversation with all of them.

“He’s more than an idol, I think everyone respects him for everything he’s done. He’s been part of the childhood of every kid when we played in the park or at school and I hope I’ll be able to follow in his path.”

Humble in his speech, Yamal thanked his family, coaches, and the Laureus Academy, eyes now on the 2026 World Cup amid the ongoing GOAT debate his words reignited.