Odumodublvck claims Lamine Yamal is better than Lionel Messi at 17

By Monsurah Olatunji

Afrobeat artist Tochukwu Ojogwu, better known as Odumodublvck, has stirred up a debate by claiming that Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is already a better footballer than legendary forward Lionel Messi at the same age.

The 17-year-old Yamal has been making waves with his impressive performances for both Barcelona and the Spanish national team.

His recent display in the Copa del Rey final, where he provided two assists in Barcelona’s victory over Real Madrid, further cemented his reputation as one of the brightest talents in world football.

Odumodublvck, in a post on social media platform X, argued that Yamal achieved more by the age of 17 than Messi did during his teenage years.

“Yamal is better than Lionel Messi,” he declared. “At 17, Messi was not touching these levels. I saw him live. I saw him; you cannot whine me. Nobody can whine me.”

While Messi had yet to win any major titles with Barcelona at the age of 17, Yamal has already won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de España.

Additionally, Yamal led Spain’s national team to victory at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship, whereas Messi did not debut for Argentina until he was 18.

Despite the bold comparison, many in the football world have been cautious in comparing Yamal to Messi, often acknowledging that while the young Barcelona forward’s talent is extraordinary, Messi’s legacy is unparalleled. Yamal himself has even spoken about the comparisons, noting that while he admires Messi, the Argentine is in a class of his own.

The praise for Yamal comes amid continued excitement over his potential, but the football community remains divided over whether it is too soon to place him on the same pedestal as one of the game’s all-time greats.