Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand has sparked a debate by declaring that Lamine Yamal is ahead of Lionel Messi at the same age.

Like Messi, Yamal emerged from Barça’s prestigious La Masia youth academy, known for producing world-class talents.

He made his first-team debut in a La Liga match in April 2023, and since then, he has become a regular starter for the Catalan giants.

Ferdinand shared his admiration for Yamal at the Globe Soccer Awards in Dubai, where he couldn’t hold back his excitement.

“I love Lamine Yamal. What a player. That’s why I’m here today.

I want to see him, I want to hug him,” he said.

He went further, comparing Yamal’s current level to Messi’s during his teenage years.

“Messi at this age? At 16? Lamine is influencing matches, making decisive plays, scoring goals, and playing beautiful football.

He’s magical,” Ferdinand remarked.

Yamal’s exceptional ball control, mesmerizing dribbling, and creative playmaking have drawn parallels to Messi, with many tipping him as the next big thing in football.

However, Ferdinand cautiously added, “I don’t want to say Lamine Yamal will become the best player of all time, but I think he can.”

Ademola Lookman has vowed that 2025 will bring even better results for Atalanta, following their impressive achievements in 2024.

Under the management of Gian Piero Gasperini, Atalanta made history by winning the UEFA Europa League and currently sits at the top of Serie A, chasing their first-ever Scudetto.

In their final match of 2024, Atalanta played out a 1-1 draw with Lazio.

Lookman, who provided the assist for the visitors’ only goal, was named Man of the Match for his performance.

Reflecting on the year, the Nigeria international shared his optimism for the future, telling Sky Sport Italia.

“2024 has been a fantastic year for the club, and we want to keep that momentum going. The New Year will be even better.”

Lookman also discussed the tough nature of the match against Lazio, noting, “The first half was very difficult for us, but we fought hard.

On another day, we could have won, but a draw is still positive because we didn’t lose.”

Super Eagles assistant coach, Daniel Ogunmodede, described the team’s 3-1 victory over Ghana’s Black Galaxies as a perfect Christmas and New Year gift for Nigerians.

The match, which took place in Uyo on Saturday, secured Nigeria’s spot in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), a competition for players from their domestic leagues.

With the tournament set to be co-hosted by Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania, this marks the Super Eagles’ return to the competition after a six-year absence.

Ogunmodede expressed his joy, emphasizing the importance of bringing happiness to Nigerians, especially during the festive season.

“I’m thrilled about today’s win. I’m happy for Nigeria, for the country, and for the people’s unity,” Ogunmodede said after the match.

“This is a gift for the Yuletide and the New Year, and we are proud to give our people something to celebrate.”