Sergio Aguero has made a definitive statement on the current state of world football, declaring Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal the best player on the planet and insisting the teenager stands apart from virtually all of his contemporaries.
The former Manchester City and Argentina striker offered his assessment while reflecting on Yamal’s performances during the 2025-26 season, a campaign in which the Spanish international has continued to establish himself as one of the most influential forwards in European football.
“There are many people who make different comparisons, but as a player, he is one who is as good as the very best,” Aguero said. “Today there is no comparison for me. Lamine is above many players.”
Aguero did acknowledge that Paris Saint-Germain and France forward Kylian Mbappe remains among the elite, though he maintained that Yamal possesses qualities that set him apart even from the French superstar. “Maybe you can say Mbappé today, he’s very good. But Lamine has other things that not many have,” he added.
Yamal, born on 13 July 2007, became the youngest player to appear at a European Championship when he represented Spain at Euro 2024, going on to win the tournament and claim the Best Young Player award. He was also named in the Team of the Tournament. His ascent since then has been rapid — he has racked up double-digit goal contributions across La Liga and the UEFA Champions League this season, firmly embedding himself in conversations previously reserved for established global superstars.
Aguero’s comments align with a growing consensus in football circles, though they are not universally held. Harry Kane recently named French-Nigerian winger Michael Olise as the best player in the world, while Yamal himself has previously spoken about his ambition to deliver Champions League success to Barcelona, a club he joined as a seven-year-old through their famed La Masia academy.
The comparisons with Lionel Messi — another product of La Masia who wore the number 10 shirt Yamal now occupies — have intensified as the teenager continues to post statistics and produce performances that echo the Argentine’s early years at the club. Aguero, a close friend and former international teammate of Messi, carries particular weight when offering such assessments.
Barcelona remain in contention on multiple fronts this season, and Yamal’s form will be central to their ambitions in the closing stages of the campaign. Whether or not he ultimately claims end-of-season individual honours, endorsements from figures of Aguero’s stature continue to reinforce his standing as the defining young talent of his generation.
