Yamal Names Messi, Ronaldo In All-Time XI

The Barca starlet has been the talk of European football over the past year amid a meteoric rise in Catalonia, where he’s broken several records at the age of 18. He played a key role in Hansi Flick’s side’s La Liga title win and was equally important for Spain in their Euro 2024 triumph last summer.

There are growing expectations that the Spanish attacker will continue to live up to the hype and become Messi’s heir at Camp Nou. He never got the chance to play with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner but he holds him in high regard.

Yamal made an appearance on China Media Group’s “Total Soccer” program and was asked to come up with his greatest XI of all time. He went with Messi and Ronaldo in a scintillating attack. The longtime rivals aren’t the only El Clasico heroes to make the team, although surprisingly there’s no place for Xavi, Andres Iniesta or Sergio Busquets.

Iker Casillas
Goalkeeper

There have been some terrific goalkeepers to emerge on Spanish soil, and Iker Casillas is up there with the very best. The Real Madrid icon wasn’t the most physically imposing shot-stopper, but he boasted tremendous athleticism to pull off constant world-class saves.

Casillas is Madrid’s second all-time appearance maker and he was crucial between the sticks for club and country. He came in clutch for Spain at Euro 2008, captaining La Roja and conceding just two goals en route to the nation’s first trophy in 44 years.

Iker Casillas Career

Iker Casillas Career
Club	Appearances (885) Clean Sheets (340)
International	Appearances (167) Clean Sheets (102)
Team Honours	23 Major Trophies

Dani Alves
Right-Back

The Barcelona juggernaut that Pep Guardiola assembled was full of stars that worked in tiki-taka cohesion with one another; a case in point was Dani Alves, who supported Lionel Messi on the right flank with aplomb. The Brazilian was often seen bombing down the channel to offer support on the overlap.

Alves was also a fine defender who could time a tackle to perfection and often made the right decision. He was sublime in Barca’s 2010-11 season, registering 16 assists across competitions, particularly shining against Manchester United in a 3-1 Champions League final win.

Dani Alves Career

Dani Alves Career
Club	Appearances (881) Goals (63) Assists (188)
International	Appearances (126) Goals (8) Assists (21)
Team Honours	44 Major Trophies

Gerard Pique & Sergio Ramos
Centre-Backs

When Gerard Piqué and Sergio Ramos met at club level, it often meant war amid the Spaniards’ spells at Barcelona and Real Madrid. Both were vital for their respective teams and offered different profiles, which were utilised at international level.

Pique was calm and composed and was tidy on the ball alongside a reliable aerial presence with his six-foot-four-inch frame. He flourished alongside Carlos Puyol during Pep Guardiola’s reign, having returned to Camp Nou from Manchester United in 2008.

Gerard Pique Career

Gerard Pique Career
Club	Appearances (667) Goals (58) Assists (14)
International	Appearances (102) Goals (5) Assists (2)
Team Honours	37 Major Trophies

Ramos is a menace who isn’t afraid of putting his body on the line or doing his side’s dirty work, with a red card always on the cards in El Clasico battles. His winning mentality was crucial for Madrid during their Champions League three-peat, which came after his heroic header led to a European title win over Atletico Madrid in 2014.

Sergio Ramos Career

Sergio Ramos Career
Club	Appearances (830) Goals (122) Assists (42)
International	Appearances (180) Goals (23) Assists (8)
Team Honours	28 Major Trophies

Marcelo

Left-Back

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Carlo Ancelotti wept at Marcelo’s farewell ceremony in June 2022 after the left-back called time on his Real Madrid career. He jetted off to his homeland for a swansong but had already cemented his legacy as one of the best full-backs the game has ever seen.

Marcelo brought Brazilian flair to the Santiago Bernabeu, displaying incredible agility and trickery on the left channel. He was a manager’s dream thanks to his constant hard work and ability to help Los Blancos or Brazil in transition.

Marcelo Career

Marcelo Career
Club	Appearances (663) Goals (52) Assists (108)
International	Appearances (58) Goals (6) Assists (11)
Team Honours	28 Major Trophies

Zinedine Zidane
Attacking Midfield

Lamine Yamal preferred Real Madrid legend Zinedine Zidane over Barcelona’s heroic midfield trio of Xavi, Andrés Iniesta, and Sergio Busquets. It speaks volumes about just how influential the Frenchman was in the sport, boasting astounding vision and creativity that sparked Los Blancos to life.

Zidane was often on cruise control, controlling proceedings in the middle of the park among fellow Galacticos such as Luis Figo, Ronaldo Nazario, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos. He loved nothing more than bagging a winner, such as his glorious volley against Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final.

Zinedine Zidane Career

Zinedine Zidane Career
Club	Appearances (690) Goals (125) Assists (141)
International	Appearances (108) Goals (31) Assists (29)
Team Honours	16 Major Trophies

16 Major Trophies

Ronaldinho
Right-Wing

It’s difficult to determine Lamine Yamal’s formation because he appeared to adopt a five-man attack, placing Ronaldinho on the right. There was little chance he would omit the most entertaining player to wear Barcelona’s red and blue.

Ronaldinho was a magnificent trickster who toyed with his opponents using his extensive skill set, including a famous dancing goal against Chelsea in 2005. His Selecao magic paved the way for the likes of Lionel Messi and Yamal to showcase their world-class skillset.

Ronaldinho Career

Ronaldinho Career
Club	Appearances (561) Goals (202) Assists (171)
International	Appearances (97) Goals (33) Assists (29)
Team Honours	11 Major Trophies

Cristiano Ronaldo
Left-Wing

Cristiano Ronaldo was selected on Lamine Yamal’s left wing, but he’d likely be given the freedom to roam as he did during nine seasons at Real Madrid. He flourished during Los Blancos’ Champions League dominance and broke several records, including becoming the competition’s all-time top scorer with 140 goals.

At the start of his career, Ronaldo was spotted by Sir Alex Ferguson’s Manchester United during a pre-season friendly and an Old Trafford move soon led to titles, goals and superstardom. He continues to prove that age is just a number at Al-Nassr while also still captaining his country at the age of 40.

Cristiano Ronaldo Career

Cristiano Ronaldo Career
Club	Appearances (1054) Goals (794) Assists (242)
International	Appearances (221) Goals (138) Assists (45)
Team Honours	36 Major Trophies

Neymar
Attacking Midfield

Neymar was another Brazilian who set Camp Nou alight during his four years alongside Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez at Barcelona before making a controversial £200m move to Paris Saint-Germain in August 2017. The Parisians knew just how talented he was, which is why they opted to pay a world-record fee for the attacker.

The Santos star does stir up scrutiny both on and off the pitch, but when he’s at his best, he’s one of Brazil’s outstanding players. He dribbles past players with ease while driving his team forward and leaving the opposition dumbfounded.

Neymar Career

Neymar Career
Club	Appearances (604) Goals (364) Assists (227)
International	Appearances (128) Goals (79) Assists (59)
Team Honours	27 Major Trophies

Lionel Messi
Attacking Midfield

It’s quite easy to compare Lamine Yamal to Lionel Messi given their style of play and meteoric rise at Camp Nou. But the Spaniard doesn’t like comparisons, much less, than with “the best player in history”.

Messi’s 2022 World Cup crowning meant the Argentinian attacker had completed football, placing another trophy alongside eight Ballons d’Or. His audacious dribbling and unrivaled technical ability have long dominated world football and he continues to flourish at Inter Miami away from the European spotlight.

Lionel Messi Career

Lionel Messi Career
Club	Appearances (909) Goals (740) Assists (356)
International	Appearances (187) Goals (109) Assists (58)
Team Honours	46 Major Trophies

Ronaldo Nazario
Striker

There haven’t been many number nines quite like Ronaldo Nazario who was unstoppable in his prime, bullying defenders and bagging goals for fun. He was the catalyst behind Brazil’s 2002 World Cup win, claiming the Golden Boot with eight goals.

Ronaldo Nazario had pace, instinctive movement and a fierce shot that helped Real Madrid win La Liga twice. If it weren’t fitness struggles he likely would have more trophies in his cabinet including a Champions League winners’ medal that evaded him.

Ronaldo Nazario Career
Club	Appearances (482) Goals (309) Assists (75)
International	Appearances (99) Goals (62) Assists (32)
Team Honours	18 Major Trophies

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