Lamine Yamal Better Than Ronaldo, Messi – Rio Ferdinand

Last updated: Jun 14, 2025. 6:00 am

By Praise Ben

3 Min Read

Lamine Yamal Better Than Ronaldo

Lamine Yamal Better Than Ronaldo, Messi – Rio Ferdinand.
Yamal starred for Spain at Euro 2024 and Barcelona’s treble season.
The 17-year-old is a strong contender for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.

Former Manchester United defender and football pundit, Rio Ferdinand, has stirred reactions after claiming that Barcelona wonderkid, Lamine Yamal, is already ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in terms of ability at age 17.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that speaking on his podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents, the English football legend praised Yamal’s exceptional talent, noting that neither Messi nor Ronaldo had achieved what the young Spaniard has at the same age.

“Yes! Lamine Yamal is better than Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi at 17 years old,” Ferdinand declared. “His potential or ceiling might be even better. They’ve gone and produced it, but the body of work at 17 years old — no one’s done it. Pele maybe, but I didn’t see Pele. But this guy is doing stuff.”

Yamal, a product of Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy, has drawn global attention with his standout performances for Spain at Euro 2024. His impact on both club and country has been nothing short of historic, earning him comparisons with football’s greatest players.

Still only 17, the teenager played a crucial role in helping Barcelona secure a domestic treble in the 2024/25 season. His dynamic style, goal contributions, and maturity on the ball have positioned him as a frontrunner for this year’s Ballon d’Or — a rare feat for someone his age.

Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, often regarded as the greatest footballers of their generation, continue to play professionally into their late 30s. But Ferdinand’s bold claim suggests that the football world may be witnessing the rise of the next all-time great.