Lionel Messi vs Lamine Yamal debate heats up as Barcelona president Joan Laporta reveals his surprising choice

Barcelona president Joan Laporta was recently asked a question that many football fans love to debate: who is the better player, Lionel Messi or Lamine Yamal? Laporta shared his thoughts during an interview with El Partidazo.

While he praised the young Barcelona star for his incredible talent, he made it clear that Messi still stands above everyone else.Laporta said Yamal is already becoming one of the most exciting players in Barcelona’s current team. However, when the discussion moved to Messi, the Barcelona chief did not hesitate. He described the Argentine legend as the greatest footballer of all time and reminded fans how much Messi gave to the club during his historic career.

Lionel Messi vs Lamine Yamal: Joan Laporta praises Barcelona youngster but calls Messi the greatest ever

During the conversation with El Partidazo, Joan Laporta explained that Lamine Yamal has quickly become an important figure in the Barcelona squad. The young winger is already seen as one of the team’s key attacking players alongside stars like Pedri.“At the moment, Lamine is a genius. He is the reference along with Pedri and other first team players,” Laporta said. He then turned the attention to Lionel Messi and his unforgettable impact on the club.

“Messi has been the best player of all time. He is a player who has given us everything, and he has also given everything to Barca,” Laporta added.Lionel Messi remains the most successful player in Barcelona history. The Argentine forward scored 672 goals and provided 303 assists in 778 matches for the Spanish club. During those years, he helped Barcelona win four UEFA Champions League titles and 10 La Liga trophies.Meanwhile, Lamine Yamal is another player who came through Barcelona’s famous La Masia system. He made his senior debut for Barcelona when he was just 15 years old, becoming one of the youngest players in the club’s history.Since breaking into the first team, Yamal has already played 143 matches for Barcelona. In those appearances, he scored 45 goals and registered 49 assists. He has also helped the club win two La Liga titles during his early career.Lionel Messi’s connection with Barcelona has remained a major topic since his emotional departure in 2021. Because of financial struggles and strict La Liga salary rules, the club could not renew his contract. Messi later joined Paris Saint‑Germain before moving to Inter Miami.Recently, former Barcelona midfielder and coach Xavi Hernández claimed that Messi was close to returning to Barcelona in 2023. Xavi said he spoke with Messi after Argentina won the FIFA World Cup and believed the move could happen.However, according to Xavi, Laporta blocked the plan because he feared conflict or pressure inside the club. Laporta later denied those claims and said the comments surprised him.Even with all the discussion around Messi’s exit, Laporta’s latest words show one thing clearly. For him, Lionel Messi is still the greatest player Barcelona has ever had.