Marcus Thuram: “Two Players Are Better Than Lamine Yamal”
In the wake of Barcelona’s thrilling 3-3 draw with Inter Milan in the Champions League, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal earned widespread acclaim for his standout performance. After Inter stormed to a 2-0 lead, Yamal responded with a stunning solo goal and posed a constant threat, dazzling fans and pundits alike.
Barcelona boss Hansi Flick praised the young star, calling him a “genius” and adding, “He shows up in the big matches. If a player like him comes along only once every 50 years, I’m just glad he’s ours.”
Inter’s manager Simone Inzaghi echoed the praise, describing Yamal as “a phenomenon” and admitting he was “amazed” after seeing the teenager play live for the first time.
Micah Richards of CBS Sports went even further, saying Yamal is the best talent of his generation since Lionel Messi.
However, Inter striker Marcus Thuram isn’t ready to crown Yamal the best just yet. Speaking after the match, he said:
“No, the best and second-best players in the world are both French. Lamine Yamal comes after them. The top two are Kylian Mbappe and Ousmane Dembele.”
Both Dembele and Mbappe have had standout seasons for PSG and Real Madrid, respectively, and along with Yamal, are strong contenders for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
