Lamine Yamal Reveals Idol: Not Messi or Ronaldo, But Neymar

Spain’s rising football sensation, Lamine Yamal, has identified Brazilian superstar Neymar as his ultimate idol, surprisingly sidestepping established legends Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. The young Barcelona prodigy shared his admiration during a recent fan Q&A session.

A Surprising Choice

When questioned about his favorite players to watch, the 18-year-old forward, who recently made his World Cup debut for Spain, pointed directly to the Brazilian attacker. “Neymar. I always enjoy watching Neymar play,” Yamal stated. “He’s my idol.” This declaration comes despite the immense success and influence of Messi and Ronaldo, who have collectively dominated individual awards for over a decade.

Yamal’s praise for Neymar is not new. He previously described the Brazilian as a player who “marked my entire childhood” and ed deep gratitude for his contributions to the sport. “He always inspires us. He’s one of those players you pay a ticket just to watch him play,” Yamal remarked earlier this year.

Acknowledging the Legends, Charting His Own Path

While Neymar holds the top spot in his admiration, Yamal did acknowledge the profound impact of both Messi and Ronaldo. He spoke of immense respect for Messi, calling him “the best in history” and ing that any on-field encounter would be met with mutual regard. However, Yamal emphasized his desire to forge his own unique career path.

“He also knows I am a player and I respect him, so it’s mutual respect,” Yamal said in a December 2025 interview. “We both know I don’t want to be Messi and Messi knows I don’t want to be him. I want to follow my path and that’s it. I don’t have the intention of playing like him or wearing the No.10 that Messi wore or anything like that.”

Similar sentiments were shared regarding Cristiano Ronaldo. Before a recent match against Portugal, Yamal described Ronaldo as a “legend” and stated that while he and his teammates held him in high regard, their focus would be on securing a win.

Focus on the Present

Currently, Yamal’s immediate focus is on contributing to Spain’s World Cup campaign. The team is set to face Saudi Arabia in a crucial Group H fixture. Yamal’s return to full fitness follows an impressive season with Barcelona, where he was a key player in their La Liga title victory, scoring 16 goals and providing 12 assists in 28 appearances.

The prospect of Yamal potentially facing Neymar in the later stages of the tournament now looms, adding an intriguing narrative to Spain’s World Cup journey.