Steven Gerrard puts 19‑year‑old Lamine Yamal above Messi and Ronaldo

Steven Gerrard said the 19‑year‑old Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is more advanced than Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo at that age, declaring “Está más avanzado que ellos”.

Praise and comparisons

Gerrard praised Yamal’s level, comparing him with Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland and stating that among youngsters Yamal sits a little above the rest. The former Liverpool midfielder admitted he had “surrendered” to Yamal’s talent. TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY highlighted that Yamal’s current role at Barcelona and with the Spain national team continues to attract praise and inevitable comparisons, noting Gerrard’s admiration. The comments were featured in Olé, the Spanish football magazine. Gerrard added that Yamal could potentially reach the level of those two world‑dominant figures if he continues to evolve, reiterating that among young players he is slightly above the rest. He warned that Yamal’s biggest challenge will be maintaining ambition over the years, describing his talent as terrifying and noting he is achieving feats rarely seen from a 19‑year‑old. Gerrard also argued that Barcelona offers all the conditions for Yamal to develop, citing the club’s regular competition for LaLiga and the Champions League, weekly crowds of 100,000 and a guaranteed place in the Spain national team, questioning why he would ever leave. Finally, Gerrard recalled meeting Yamal in youth matches between Liverpool’s under‑18 and under‑19 sides and Barcelona’s lower categories, remembering Yamal stood out alongside Curtis Jones, now an English midfielder.