Messi Reveals: Lamine Yamal Tops List of Five Global Stars His Sons Worship

When discussing soccer legends, Lionel Messi stands in a league of his own – an eight-time Ballon d'Or recipient considered by many as the finest player to ever grace the pitch.

You might think that having the Lionel Messi as your father would mean he's your only football inspiration. However, that's not entirely true for Messi's three boys – Thiago, Mateo, and Ciro – who have developed admiration for several contemporary stars.

During an uncommon interview with Simplemente Fútbol, the Argentinian and Inter Miami icon revealed which current players his sons – all enrolled in Inter Miami's youth development program – look up to.

He identified five prominent athletes: Real Madrid's Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr., Barcelona talents Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski, and Manchester City's goal-scoring machine Erling Haaland.

"They observe everything, they're familiar with every player," Messi explained. "They mention Mbappé, Vinicius, Haaland, Lewandowski, Lamine. They follow all of them – not necessarily aspiring to be like them, but they certainly know all about them."

Messi specifically highlighted one name: Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona prodigy often likened to Messi himself – not just because of their shared club heritage, but due to similarities in playing style.

The 17-year-old Spanish winger is among the top contenders for this year's Ballon d'Or following a remarkable season where he netted 18 goals and provided 25 assists for Barcelona, helping the club secure an impressive treble: La Liga, Spanish Super Cup, and Copa del Rey.

"It's remarkable. What he's displaying, what he's accomplishing, what he's achieved is extraordinary," Messi remarked. "He's already a European champion. At just 17, he's still developing, and I believe he'll continue to evolve as a player; he'll enhance various aspects of his game."

He also pointed out their similar career trajectories, both having begun their journeys on the right wing.

"Just as I started, he also began on the right side. Perhaps in a few years, he'll also evolve to play differently," Messi added. "There's no question he possesses incredible talent; he's already established himself as one of the world's finest players."

With Messi as their father and players like Yamal as role models, it wouldn't be surprising if one of his sons emerges as the next sensation in global football.