Rio Ferdinand already believes that Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal is the best player in the world. ‘Unbelievable’ Yamal earned plaudits for his sensational performance as Barca drew 3-3 at home to Inter Milan in the first leg Champions League semi-final on Wednesday, his 100th appearance for the club at the tender age of 17.
Hansi Flick’s side found themselves 2-0 down with just 21 minutes on the clock before Yamal scored a sublime goal with his left foot to inspire a comeback. The Spain international, who took Euro 2024 by storm last summer, then hit the crossbar two minutes later after Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer got a vital touch.
Ferran Torres drew Barcelona level before half-time, only for Denzel Dumfries to restore the visitors’ lead soon after the hour mark. Barca responded quickly through Raphinha, whose long-range strike hit the bar and bounced in off of the unfortunate Sommer’s back.
The tie is finely poised ahead of next Tuesday’s second leg in Milan but post-match, Yamal was the name on everyone’s lips. Ferdinand, who was at the Lluis Companys Olympic Stadium to commentate for TNT Sports, took to social media after witnessing Yamal’s heroics and made a huge claim.
“As a pure football talent I’m going as far as to say I think Lamine Yamal is on another level to any player playing the game in the top 5 leagues in world football,” the ex-Manchester United and England defender posted on Instagram. “17yrs old – Truly unbelievable.”
Ferdinand was in awe of the 17-year-old’s dazzling display during the match, as he ran Inter ragged. “This kid the taking the mick. He is taking liberties on the biggest stage,” he added. “Every time Barcelona get the chance to open them up, they look to the youngest player in their team.”
Ferdinand later remarked: “We were sitting just behind where Yamal was doing his damage and mesmerising the stadium, the amount of times he had the ball and impact the play, every facet was on show and it was beautiful to be here and be a part of.”
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Jamie Carragher, working for CBS Sports, likened Yamal’s performance to one of Lionel Messi’s in his prime. “That was Messi-esque,” Carragher hailed. “That was like watching Messi in his heyday. The whole game almost stopping to just see what he was going to do. It was just brilliant.”
Thierry Henry added: “One thing that always amazes me in football is you always think there’s no way that someone is going to be better, or might be better, or look like they might be better than [Cristiano] Ronaldo and Messi, and in my time Pele and [Diego] Maradona, [Zinedine] Zidane, R9 [Ronaldo Nazario] or whatever.
“And then Lamine Yamal arrives. It’s just crazy what he’s doing. It’s just abnormal.
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