Image source, Getty Images

The only player worth more is Manchester City’s Erling Haaland on €199.6m however FootballTransfers predict that once Yamal signs a new deal at Barcelona, he will become the world's most valuable player.

Here are the current top five on the list:

• Erling Haaland (€199.6m)
• Lamine Yamal (€174.3m)
• Kylian Mbappe (€151m)
• Pedri (€143.9m)
• Jude Bellingham (€142.9m)

Image source, Getty Images

Lamine Yamal’s estimated transfer value is €174.3 million*.

The 17-year-old is now into the final 18 months of his contract at Barcelona which runs out in June 2026.

It has been reported Yamal is set to extend his deal at the Catalan club and because of this, his valuation is expected to rise further.

*According to FootballTransfers

Simon Stone
BBC Sport's chief football news reporter

Question: How careful do Barcelona need to be with Yamal? Is there a chance he could burn out? There's a lot of pressure on his shoulders already.

They do need to be careful but not in the same way as you would have to be in England I would argue.

Barcelona can play in spells. They also dominate possession in almost every game. The game-to-game intensity is not as high as it is in England.

I would cite Michael Owen as someone who played too much early in his career. It put straight on his body and in the end, it gave way.

Yamal is not built like Wayne Rooney, who was a man at 16. But I don’t see it being a major problem.

It is research group within the International Centre for Sports Studies (CIES) based in Switzerland.

They say their mission is to 'advance the frontiers of knowledge for the sustainable development of football worldwide'

Image 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.

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)

Image 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.

Image 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.

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.

Image 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.”

Ben Ramsdale
BBC Sport journalist

Jorgen Strand Larsen v Jacob Murphy.

Now that's a debate.

Time to rebadge the live!

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

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

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!

Just joining us? Here's what you might've missed:

• Watch: Champions League semi-final highlights
• 'Talent that comes every 50 years' - Flick
• 'Yamal is a once-in-50-years phenomenon' - Inzaghi
• How does Yamal compare to Ronaldo and Messi at 17?
• Rooney and Owen at 17
• 'Yamal is on another level to any player in world football' - Ferdinand

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.