FC Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal has received public recognition and a playful directive from his idol Neymar on social media. The praise came after Yamal’s exceptional performance against Real Betis in the Copa del Rey, a display that has sparked discussions about him being the best player in the world on current form.

Teammate Gavi and head coach Hansi Flick echoed this sentiment in separate post-match interviews at Montjuïc, highlighting the young player’s extraordinary talent.

Meanwhile, Yamal is being heralded as a blend of Lionel Messi and Neymar by prominent voices in football, including El Chiringuito panellist and devoted Barça supporter Jota Jordi. Reports suggest the 17-year-old might inherit the iconic number 10 shirt from Messi next season.

Though often compared to Messi due to their shared characteristics as left-footed La Masia prodigies who debuted as teenagers on the right wing, Yamal has openly declared Neymar as his footballing idol.

“I was five years old when I saw him at Santos, but seven when I saw him in person at Camp Nou,” Yamal told CNN Sport earlier this month. “It was incredible to see him. Yes, Messi was also incredible, but Neymar was something totally different. He has always been my idol — a star, a football legend.”

Following Barça’s victory over Real Betis, Yamal shared photos from the match on Instagram with the caption disfrutando (enjoying) alongside a Brazilian funk track by Oruam, MC Tuto, and Ze Felipe. Neymar took notice and commented, “You are very Brazilian,” accompanied by laughing and applause emojis. He added, “Dance, craque,” using the Portuguese term for a phenomenon or star player in football.

Given Yamal’s dazzling dribbling skills, impeccable ball control, and flair for tricks, it’s easy to see why Neymar likened the young Spaniard — who is of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean descent — to the artistry synonymous with Brazilian football.

At just 17 years old, Yamal continues to capture the world’s attention, with performances that solidify his status as one of football’s brightest talents.