Spain midfielder Gavi has offered high praise to his Barcelona and national teammate Lamine Yamal, describing the 18-year-old prodigy as the finest footballer in the world, barring Lionel Messi. Both players are eyeing World Cup success, with Gavi expressing full confidence in the young winger’s ability to manage the pressure of the knockout stages.

Yamal is steadily regaining his match fitness after a hamstring injury disrupted his World Cup build-up. The Barcelona forward has been gradually increasing his time on the pitch for Spain, playing 19 minutes against Cape Verde, 45 minutes in a goal-scoring appearance versus Saudi Arabia, and 76 minutes against Uruguay.

In a conversation with La Vanguardia, Gavi highlighted the extraordinary talent Yamal displays even when short of full fitness. He said, “Perhaps he is not yet at 100 per cent. But Lamine at 70 per cent is already the best. As the matches progress, he will only improve.”

At just 18 years old, Yamal already boasts a remarkable collection of honours. The Golden Boy award winner helped Spain lift the Euro 2024 trophy and has celebrated three La Liga titles with Barcelona.

Yamal also finished second in the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, behind Ousmane Dembele. When asked if the teenager is currently the best player in the world, Gavi gave a glowing endorsement by ranking him just below the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner. “Lionel Messi aside, I see him as the best. And I will always stand by him, through the good moments and the bad,” Gavi stated.

Major tournaments often place immense pressure on young stars, yet Yamal continues to exhibit exceptional composure. Gavi admitted he is astounded by how calmly his teammate handles global attention despite his rapid rise in fame.

Gavi added, “Sometimes I tell him I don’t understand how he does it because he never seems overwhelmed by people. If I were in his place, I’d find it extremely hard and would get stressed, but Lamine manages everything with such ease. It’s an incredible quality of his.”

Spain are now fine-tuning their tactical approach for the upcoming Round of 32 encounter with Austria. Head coach Luis de la Fuente faces a tough decision over his midfield setup and whether Yamal is ready to play the entire match. The European powerhouse must deliver a unified performance to progress further and keep their World Cup dream alive.