Inter Milan captain Lautaro Martinez firmly dismissed comparisons between football legend Lionel Messi and Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal following an electrifying 3-3 draw between Inter and Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg at Camp Nou. The clash delivered sensational goals and unforgettable moments as both sides battled for a place in the final.
Inter Milan wasted no time making an impact. Marcus Thuram opened the scoring within seconds, turning in a cross with a clever backheel. Denzel Dumfries doubled their lead in the 21st minute with an acrobatic bicycle kick that left fans in awe. Barcelona responded just three minutes later when young winger Lamine Yamal danced through defenders and scored with a curling shot off the far post. He nearly struck again moments later but was denied by the crossbar.
Barcelona then equalized in the 38th minute through Ferran Torres, making it 2-2 before halftime. Despite losing Lautaro Martinez at the break due to a knock, Inter regained the lead when Dumfries headed in a corner in the 63rd minute. But Barcelona responded swiftly through Raphinha, whose powerful effort struck the crossbar and deflected off the goalkeeper’s head into the net.
Post-match, Lautaro Martinez was asked about the growing chatter comparing Yamal with Messi. Martinez, who shares the international stage with Messi for Argentina, firmly rejected the comparison. “For me, Leo is incomparable because Leo is and always will be the best player of all time,” he stated. “I’m not going to make that comparison. All I can say is that Lamine is an important player. We’ve all seen what he can do.”
Interestingly, Yamal also addressed the comparisons before the game and dismissed them outright. “I don’t compare myself to him because I don’t compare myself to anyone—and much less with Messi,” said the teenager.
The high-octane match and post-match quotes have further fueled the discussion around emerging talent and legendary figures in world football. While Lamine Yamal continues to impress with his performances, both players and fans alike seem to agree—there is only one Lionel Messi.