Summary

  1. Who are the top teenagers in world football?published at 11:37 British Summer Time

    Endrick of Real MadridImage source, Getty Images

    Here is the CIES Football Observatory's top 10 teenagers in world football:

    • Lamine Yamal (Barcelona)
    • Pau Cubarsi (Barcelona)
    • Endrick Felipe (Real Madrid)
    • Warren Zaire-Emery (Paris St. Germain)
    • Kobbie Mainoo (Manchester United)
    • Archie Gray (Tottenham)
    • Guillaume Restes (Tolouse)
    • Kendry Paez (Independiente del Valle)
    • Joao Neves (Paris St. Germain)
    • Lewis Miley (Newcastle)

    The list is calculated by relative experience level which is weighted by the sporting level of matches played.

  2. 'You can't compare Yamal to the legends until he's consistently delivered'published at 11:31 British Summer Time

    Simon Stone & Sami Mokbel Q&A

    Simon Stone
    BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

    Gareth, Glasgow: Interesting reading about Yamal compared to Messi. I’m not knocking Yamal, but Messi broke into arguably one of the best sides the world has ever seen. The same can’t be said about the current Barcelona squad. He is quite a talent for 17 years old. Would he have broken into Barcelona of old? Would he have been given the chance?

    I am not sure your reasoning is correct Gareth.

    When Barcelona beat Arsenal in the Champions League final in 2006, Xavi and Andres Iniesta were on the bench.

    Lionel Messi came through the following season but I distinctly remember the 2008 Champions League semi-final against Manchester United, when Paul Scholes won it with a superb goal, there were almost sharp intakes of breath from fans when Messi got the ball because they were petrified about what he was going to do.

    When Barca beat United in the 2009 final, United started as favourites. Messi didn’t break into one of the best sides the world has ever seen. They were one of the best sides the world has ever seen (I would say they were the best) because he was in it.

    Lamine Yamal has the priceless ability to take players on in tight spaces. His balance and ball control are incredible. Messi had that, so did Diego Maradona, who I thought was the best player I had ever seen until Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo came along.

    Yamal is a thrilling player to watch. But you can’t compare him to the legends until he has consistently delivered in the biggest of matches.

    Get your questions in for Simon Stone and Sami Mokbel - WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only, standard message rates apply)

  3. What has happened with Fati?published at 11:25 British Summer Time

    Lamine Yamal speaks to Barcelona team-mate Ansu FatiImage source, EPA

    Like Lamine Yamal, Ansu Fati came through Barcelona's youth academy and before turning 18 he had racked up 41 appearances, 13 goals, 4 assists.

    However, shortly after his 18th birthday he suffered a knee injury in November 2020 which required surgery and kept him out for nine months.

    After playing a bit-part during the 2021-22 season, he made 51 appearances in 2022-23 before playing 27 games on loan with Brighton last season.

    But since returning to Spain, the 22-year-old has played just 10 games for Barca this season and remained on the bench for Wednesday's draw with Inter Milan.

  4. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:19 British Summer Time

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    Definitely interesting to compare to Rooney and Owen at 17, but we are all aware that both ended their careers early - likely because of the amount of games they played at a young age. Hoping Yamal doesn't follow in their footsteps in that regard!

    Adam, Sheffield

  5. Musiala at 17published at 11:14 British Summer Time

    Jamal Musiala celebrates scoring for Bayern Munich against Schalke in September 2020Image source, Getty Images

    Jamal Musiala and Ansu Fati have been mentioned in comparison to Lamine Yamal, along with potential burn-out.

    Musiala made his first-team debut for Bayern Munich in June 2020 and as a 17-year-old he registered 23 appearances and 4 goals.

    Now 22, he remains a regular for Bayern and has now made more than 200 appearances, as well as playing in 40 internationals for Germany.

  6. Postpublished at 11:12 British Summer Time

    Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport Journalist

    Good segue James, thank you.

    We had a look at Wayne Rooney and Michael Owen earlier on but let's take a look at some other comparable names that burst onto the scene at a young age.

  7. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 11:08 British Summer Time

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    Not sure I agree with all the messages coming in about Yamal. Lots of speculation about his minutes played and lots of people saying “well we have seen young talent like this before, only for them to flop”. Tell me in the immediate moment the last 17 year old to have 22 goals and 33 assists. Forget minutes and age, if you’re producing numbers like that, you’re bound to be one of the first names on the team sheet.

    James

  8. 'It is crazy to think Yamal is 17, it is not normal'published at 11:02 British Summer Time

    Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan

    Lamine YamalImage source, Reuters

    Speaking to US broadcaster CBS Sports after Wednesday's game, former Arsenal and Barcelona forward Thierry Henry said: “It is great to see a new guy on the block who looks like he might be dominating football, and I wish that for him, but let's not put him under pressure.

    “One thing that amazes me in football is you always think that there is nobody better than Ronaldo than Ronaldo and Messi, Gullit, Maradona, a lot of people, and then Lamine Yamal arrives.

    “It is crazy to think that guy is 17 years old, it is just crazy, it is not normal.”

  9. Postpublished at 10:59 British Summer Time

    Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport journalist

    Jorgen Strand Larsen v Jacob Murphy.

    Now that's a debate.

    Time to rebadge the live!

  10. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:57 British Summer Time

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    Best in the world right now...easy, with 6 in 6 games it has to be Jorgen Strand Larsen!

    Andi the unbiased Wolves fan

    Yamal is quality but he's no Jacob Murphy

    Mike

  11. Yamal in focuspublished at 10:51 British Summer Time

    Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan

    Ever wondered what it's like watching Lamine Yamal close up?

    Probably not - but it's still worth a watch.

    Media caption,

    What it's like watching Yamal up close

  12. Reminder: Q&A coming uppublished at 10:46 British Summer Time

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    A reminder that we've got a Q&A coming up shortly with BBC Sport's chief football news reporter Simon Stone and senior football correspondent Sami Mokbel.

    Get those questions in sharpish if you want them answering!

  13. 'Yamal is a genius, he is special'published at 10:35 British Summer Time

    Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan

    Barcelona

    Barcelona manager Hansi Flick, like everyone else, was full of praise for Lamine Yamal after Wednesday evening's 3-3 draw against Inter Milan.

    He described the teenager as a "genius" while commending his all round reading of the game.

    Media caption,

    Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan: Yamal is a genius

  14. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:32 British Summer Time

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    Why is everyone obsessed with Yamal's goalscoring and assists stats, they are important but just enjoy his skills - they are worth watching alone.

    Chris from Tilbury

  15. Poll: Is Yamal the best player in the world right now?published at 10:26 British Summer Time

    Ben Ramsdale
    BBC Sport journalist

    Lots of you already having your say today via text but if you want to double down, like Emil in Stroud this morning, we have a poll running at the top of this live page.

    A simple yes or no for this one.

    However, for those in the no camp - if Yamal isn't the best player in the world right now, then who is?

    You know what to do!

  16. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:23 British Summer Time

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    Age doesn't make someone the best player in the world. It's a good achievement but there are 5/6 players ahead of him at least.

    Ryan, Sheffield

    Is Yamal world's best? No. Most would agree La Liga is a weaker league than the PL. So far this season Salah has scored 31 goals in PL/CL to Yamal's 11 in La Liga/CL and Salah has provided 22 assists to Yamal's 18. Yamal lacks Salah's output despite playing in a weaker league.

    Anon

  17. Like watching Messi in his heyday - Carragherpublished at 10:17 British Summer Time

    Lamine Yamal celebratesImage source, Getty Images

    Speaking to US broadcaster CBS Sports, former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher said: “That was like watching Messi in his heyday. When he got the ball, the whole game stopped as people wait to see what he's going to do.

    “We always felt Mbappe and Haaland would be the next two [best players in the world after Messi and Ronaldo]. I don’t think Haaland will ever be that, he’s just an out-and-out goalscorer.

    “The way Yamal played tonight, I won’t say he’s better than Mbappe now, but there is more to him. He will get involved in the game more and pull out wide.”

  18. Yamal on Messi-Ronaldo comparisonspublished at 10:11 British Summer Time

    Barcelona 3-3 Inter Milan

    Barcelona

    Lamine YamalImage source, EPA

    Lamine Yamal speaking to TNT Sports: "I try to forge my own path. I try to play the way I know how and not think about anything.

    "I think that’s the trick, that’s the secret, to try to do my best and not compare myself with anyone.

    "I’m following my path, giving my all, and it’s been working out for me so far, but I still haven’t achieved anything.

    "I’ll try to play the same or better in the second leg and hopefully we’ll win."

  19. get involved

    Get Involvedpublished at 10:06 British Summer Time

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    While I do think Yamal is unbelievable, having 100 first-team appearances at the highest level by 17 is just a complete recipe for disaster. Whilst I understand on his day, he is the go-to player for Hansi Flick and therefore needs to play if Barca want to win - it just seems unwise to play him so much. For reference, he played 3000 minutes last season, and over 3800 minutes this season. Messi was 21 when he played around 3800 minutes in a season, and Ronaldo was 20. Obviously I don't know as much as Flick, but just a slight cause for concern.

    Myuran

    I think a lot of people are ignoring the dangers of playing so many elite games so young. The damage that can do to a developing body, see players like Pedri, Gavi, Wharton etc. One injury so early could result in some of these guys losing that explosive edge that makes them so exciting.

    Lloyd