Lamine Yamal has named Lionel Messi, Vinicius Jr, and Ismael Saibari as the players who have impressed him at the FIFA World Cup so far. Yamal is set to feature for Spain in the Round of 32, as they'll clash against Austria.
What happened?
Lionel Messi has been in stupendous form in this FIFA World Cup, having scored six times in the three group stage games for Argentina. He became the all-time highest goalscorer in the history of the tournament after his brace against Austria.
Why it matters for Lamine Yamal
Yamal made his debut for Spain in the FIFA World Cup this year and scored his first goal against Saudi Arabia in the group stages. The 18-year-old sensation is expected to play a larger role in the knockout stages for La Roja.
What comes next?
In an interview with COPE, Spain prodigy Lamine Yamal was asked to name the players who impressed him the most in this FIFA World Cup so far. Yamal named Lionel Messi, Vinicius Jr, and Ismael Saibari as his picks.
Yamal didn't play a full 90 minutes in any group stage game as he's freshly back from a hamstring injury, but is expected to get more minutes in the upcoming games. Vinicius Jr hasn't been far behind, showing up consistently for Brazil, with five goals in four games.
Lamine Yamal hailed Lionel Messi as the best in history amid the FIFA World Cup, saying "Every match proves he’s the best in history". Messi scored his first World Cup hat-trick in the game against Algeria, and also reached 16 goals to be the tournament's joint-highest scorer in history.
Ismael Saibari has been a revelation in this World Cup, scoring thrice in four games. Brazil and Morocco have both made it to the Round of 16, while Argentina has yet to face Cabo Verde in the Round of 32.
Lamine Yamal's comments came fresh after Argentina's opening game in the FIFA World Cup against Algeria, which was a one-man show for Lionel Messi. The legendary forward scored his first World Cup hat-trick in the game in the 3-0 win.
And so, with the challenge of the Round of 32 looming, Lionel Messi and co. will look to defend their title this time after their fairytale triumph in Qatar in 2022. But for now, Lamine Yamal is focused on Spain's clash against Austria, where he'll look to make a bigger impact.
So, what can we expect from Lamine Yamal in the upcoming games? With his impressive debut and growing confidence, he's sure to be a key player for Spain in the knockout stages.
Lamine Yamal's idol is Neymar Jr, but he believes Messi is the best. This sentiment was echoed by many after Messi's stunning performance in the group stages.
The Round of 32 clash between Spain and Austria is set to be an exciting one, with Lamine Yamal and his teammates looking to make a statement. Will they be able to overcome Austria and move on to the next round? Only time will tell.
But one thing is certain - Lamine Yamal is a player to watch in this FIFA World Cup, and his comments on Lionel Messi, Vinicius Jr, and Ismael Saibari are a testament to his admiration for their skills on the pitch.