Yamal names Neymar as his idol, snubbing Messi and Ronaldo ahead of World Cup

Lamine Yamal has named Neymar as his footballing idol, overlooking Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo in a fan Q&A on his YouTube channel — and the 34-year-old Brazilian’s inclusion in the World Cup means the two could yet meet on the same pitch in the latter stages of the tournament.

“Neymar. I always enjoy watching Neymar play,” the 18-year-old said. “He’s my idol.”

Yamal had previously expanded on that admiration in April. “Neymar is a player who marked my entire childhood,” he said. “He is my idol. I will always be grateful for everything he has given to football. He always inspires us. He’s one of those players you pay a ticket just to watch him play.”

The Spain winger, who won Euro 2024 and finished second in last year’s Ballon d’Or rankings — an award Messi and Ronaldo have shared 13 times between them — also name-checked Manchester City pair Jeremy Doku and Rayan Cherki as players he enjoys watching.

Yamal made his World Cup debut off the bench in Spain’s shock draw with Cape Verde on Monday and is working his way back to full fitness ahead of Sunday’s match against Saudi Arabia.

Despite his respect for Messi, who opened his own World Cup campaign with a hat-trick against Algeria, Yamal has been clear that he has no intention of modelling himself on the Argentina captain. “We both know I don’t want to be Messi and Messi knows I don’t want to be him,” he told CBS’ 60 Minutes in December 2025. “I want to follow my path and that’s it. I don’t have the intention of playing like him or wearing the No.10 that Messi wore or anything like that.”

He struck a similarly respectful but competitive tone regarding Ronaldo ahead of facing Portugal in the Nations League final last year. “Cristiano is a legend and we all have a lot of respect for him, but I will do my job, which is to win the match,” he said in June 2025.

Neymar’s place in Brazil’s squad had been in doubt due to injury, but the Santos captain was ultimately selected, setting up the possibility of a meeting between idol and admirer should both nations progress deep into the tournament.