Rio Ferdinand Says Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal Is Better Than Ronaldo And Messi
Former English professional player cum pundit, Rio Ferdinand, has stated that Barcelona star, Lamine Yamal surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi in terms of skill at the age of 17.
The Genius Media Nigeria reports that both Ronaldo and Messi are widely regarded as two of the finest players to have ever graced the sport.
Although both athletes are nearing the end of their careers, they continue to demonstrate no intention of retiring.
Yamal, a product of the Barcelona youth academy, gained recognition following his impressive performances with Spain at Euro 2024.
The Spanish international is currently proving to the world that he possesses the potential to achieve the same heights as Ronaldo and Messi.
At just 17 years old, Yamal, who is a candidate for this year’s Ballon d’Or, has broken and established numerous records.
During an episode of the Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former Manchester United player addressed a query regarding whether Yamal is a superior player compared to Ronaldo at the same age.
“Yes! Lamine Yamal is better than Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi at 17 years old,” Ferdinand said.
“His potential or ceiling them to might be better. They’ve gone and produced it. The body of work at 17 years old, no one’s done it.
“Pele may, but I didn’t see Pele. But this guy is doing stuff.”
Yamal was a key player for Barcelona as they claimed a domestic treble in the 2024-25 season.
