When it comes to football idols, only a few are larger than Lionel Messi and eight-time balloon d’Or winners, who is generally considered the greatest player ever.
So when your father is The Lionel Messi, you could assume that he is the only footballer to ever look at. But that is not quite the case for Messi’s three sons-thiago, Mateo and Ciroo who have their own list of modern heroes.
In a recent and rare interview with Simplings fútbolThe superstar of Argentina and Inter Miami was asked which current players his sons – all of whom play in the youth academy of Inter Miami – strive for it.
He called five outstanding stars: Real Madrid Duo Kylian Mbappé and Vinicius Jr., Barcelona -Stars Lamine Yamal and Robert Lewandowski as well as Erling Haaland from Manchester City.
“You see everything, you all know,” said Messi. “They talk to them about Mbappé, Vinicius, Haaland, Lewandowski, Lamine. They follow everyone – not necessarily how they want to be, but they know everything.”
Messi took a moment to concentrate on a name: Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona Wonderkid compared to Messi itself – not only because of the club connection, but because of his playing style.
The 17 -year -old winger is one of the favorites to land this year’s balloon d’Or after an astonishing season in which he scored 18 goals and registered 25 assists for Barça and helps them to raise a historical heights of La League and the Spanish Superpokal and Copa del Rey.
“It is impressive. What he shows what he does, what he has done is impressive,” said Messi. “He was already a European champion. He is still 17, he is in the growth process, and I think he will grow even more as a player. He will add things.”
He also noticed a journey together, both of which had started on the right wing.
“Just when I started, he started right. Maybe he will play differently in a few years,” added Messi. “There is no doubt that he has barbaric skills. Today he is already one of the best in the world.”
Don’t be surprised when Messi, as her father and stars, have to look up like Yamal when one of his boys becomes the next name that illuminates world ball.