Lamine Yamal praises Messi as the best player at the 2026 World Cup and thanks the Argentine legend for his personal support

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has praised Lionel Messi as the best player at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, while expressing gratitude to the Argentine legend for offering him encouragement after what he described as a difficult night.

Also read: Messi Names Two Most Special Goals of His Career

The Spain international shared the remarks in separate Facebook posts on Tuesday, October 27, celebrating Messi’s World Cup performance and thanking him for reaching out personally.

“No player was better than Messi in the 2026 FIFA World Cup!” Yamal wrote.

In another post, the Barcelona teenager expressed appreciation to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner for calling him, checking on him and offering words of support.

“A big thank you to Leo Messi. Goat!

“Thank you for calling me, checking on me, and giving me your support. Your words meant a lot to me, especially after a difficult night.

“I truly appreciate it, Leo. Much love and respect!” he wrote.

Yamal’s comments came after he finished third in the 2026 Ballon d’Or rankings, behind winner Harry Kane and runner-up Kylian Mbappé at Monday’s ceremony in London.

Although the teenager referred to a “difficult night”, he did not explicitly say that his Ballon d’Or result prompted Messi’s phone call.

The Barcelona forward has made several social media posts praising the Argentine since the awards ceremony.

Messi’s reported gesture of support also highlighted the relationship between the two football stars, with Yamal openly acknowledging the encouragement he received from the player he admires.

The young forward has previously spoken highly of Messi, whose achievements with Argentina and Barcelona have made him one of the most celebrated figures in football.

Yamal’s latest remarks also came in the aftermath of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, where Argentina finished runners-up to Spain, according to the supplied report.

Despite missing out on the Ballon d’Or title, Yamal remains one of Barcelona’s leading young talents and continues to attract attention for his performances at club and international levels.

Also read: Messi Names Two Most Special Goals of His Career

His public appreciation of Messi underlined the respect he holds for the Argentine, whose influence continues to resonate with a new generation of footballers.