ANI
10 May 2026, 18:02 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], May 10 (ANI): Football icon Lionel Messi has hailed rising Spanish talent Lamine Yamal as the 'best' young player of new generation, while also reflecting on his long-standing rivalry with Cristiano Ronaldo.
Speaking at an Adidas event for a FIFA World Cup 2026 promotional campaign, Messi said Yamal stood out among the new generation of footballers due to his performances and long-term potential.
'There is a new generation of players who are very good and have many years ahead of them. If I had to pick one of them, based on his age, his performances so far and his prospects for the future, it would be Lamine. No doubt about it: for me, he's the best,' Messi said, as quoted by Goal.com.
The Argentina captain also spoke about his historic rivalry with Ronaldo, describing it as one of the greatest sporting battles in football history.
'It was a great sporting rivalry. We fought for everything, as a team and individually too. So people were always comparing us. But our relationship was always good and respectful,' Messi said.
He further added that while their interactions were limited, they always maintained mutual respect.
'We didn't cross paths much outside of matches and award ceremonies, but when we did, we got on well,' he said.
Meanwhile, the 2026 edition of the FIFA World Cup, starting from June 11, will be the largest in history, featuring 48 teams and 104 matches, with the opening game scheduled in Mexico City and the final to be held in New Jersey. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Illinois Intelligencer news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Illinois Intelligencer.
More InformationNew Delhi [India], May 10 (ANI): Football icon Lionel Messi has hailed rising Spanish talent Lamine Yamal as the 'best' young player...
Tel Aviv [Israel], May 10 (ANI): Israel set up a covert military outpost in the Iraqi desert to support its air campaign against Iran...
Experts say the outbreak, while serious, is unlikely to spread widely due to the virus' transmission profile. BRUSSELS, May 10 (Xinhua)...
Tel Aviv [Israel], May 10 (ANI): An Israeli ministerial committee is expected to review a bill on Sunday aimed at revoking the Oslo...
Moscow [Russia], May 10 (ANI): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday (local time) praised the United States' efforts to help...
* Reports said Washington and Tehran were closing in on a one-page agreement aimed at ending their war. This week, the two sides engaged...
WASHINGTON, D.C.:/CAIRO: Even as the forces of the United States and Iran exchanged fire in the Middle East on May 8, a U.S. intelligence...
PARIS, France: French prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation targeting Elon Musk and social media platform X over allegations...
ZURICH, Switzerland: An opinion ​poll on May 8 showed that Swiss voters are split down the middle on backing a referendum proposal...
HONG KONG: China's top anti-corruption body has indicted a former chairman of China Eastern Airlines Group on bribery charges, China's...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: The United Arab Emirates responded to another Iranian missile barrage on May 8, hours after the U.S. and Iranian forces...
BUDAPEST, Hungary: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this week that Hungary had returned a shipment of cash and gold worth...
