Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has suggested that Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal is more advanced in his development at 19 than football icons Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo were at the same age.
Gerrard, who had the opportunity to face both Messi and Ronaldo during their early careers, made the comparison while praising the Spanish sensation for his outstanding performances at both club and international levels.
“Lamine Yamal is more advanced at 19 than Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi were at the age of 19. If you look at all three players at that age, Lamine Yamal is the most advanced,” Gerrard stated.
Yamal has continued to establish himself among the world’s elite despite his young age, earning recognition in major individual award races. He finished second in the 2025 Ballon d’Or voting behind Paris Saint-Germain’s Ousmane Dembélé before securing another runner-up finish this year behind Bayern Munich striker Harry Kane.
