Legendary coach Pep Guardiola sets the record straight on Lionel Messi vs. Lamine Yamal debate

Lamine Yamal’s breakout at FC Barcelona has sparked immediate comparisons to Lionel Messi, with fans and pundits alike wondering whether the 18-year-old phenom could one day surpass the Argentine legend. Amid the ongoing debate, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola weighed in, offering a clear and measured perspective on the Messi-Yamal conversation.

Guardiola has long made his stance known: Messi is, in his view, the greatest player in the history of the sport. No one he has coached — not even the most promising talents — has matched Messi’s level. Still, Yamal’s historic rise, marked by record-breaking performances in La Liga, the UEFA EUROs, and the Champions League, has led many to speculate whether he could eventually challenge Messi’s legacy.

In an interview with GQ magazine, Guardiola was asked directly about the comparisons between Yamal and Messi, offering a grounded response: “I think we need to let Lamine Yamal have his own career. And when he’s been playing for fifteen years, then we can say if he’s better or worse. Let him have his career. And the fact that he’s already being compared to Messi — those are big words.“

The Spanish tactician went further, drawing a vivid analogy to underline the scope of the comparison. “It’s like comparing a painter to Van Gogh. People would say, ‘Wow, not bad,’ which means he’s good. And being compared like that is a sign that he’s good. But we need to let him develop his own career. We’ll see in time,” the coach added.

Messi, a whole different level

Lamine Yamal has enjoyed a stunning 2024–25 campaign with Barcelona, tallying 18 goals and 25 assists in 55 appearances and playing a pivotal role in securing a domestic treble. His Champions League run, which saw Barca reach the semifinals, has also made him a leading Ballon d’Or contender alongside Ousmane Dembele.

Yet even with praise for Barcelona’s rising star — calling him “quite good” — Guardiola emphasized that “Messi is another level entirely“: “That’s 90 goals in a season, for 15 years, nonstop, without injuries. That’s a whole different level. Let it be. Just let it be.”

Guardiola referenced Messi’s legendary 2012 campaign, when he scored a record 91 goals in a calendar year. With Yamal still in the early stages of his professional career, Guardiola made it clear: the young forward has immense talent, but the road to matching Messi’s greatness is still long.