Lamine Yamal names Lionel Messi the World Cup's best player: 'Nobody expected it'

Barcelona and Spain star Lamine Yamal has delivered a ringing endorsement of Blaugrana icon Lionel Messi, naming the eight-time Ballon d'Or winner as the standout performer at this summer's World Cup in North America.

Speaking during an interview with Movistar (as cited by Fabrizio Romano) this week, the Barcelona prodigy left no room for doubt over who he believes shone brightest on football's grandest stage.

"Lionel Messi was the best player at the World Cup because of everything he represents and everything he did. Even though everyone knows Messi is the best player in history, nobody expected him to have such an incredible World Cup."

A campaign for the ages — at 39

Now 39 years old, Messi conjured up nothing short of a spectacular individual campaign on the sport's biggest stage, racking up 12 direct goal contributions over the course of the tournament. At times, he almost seemed to drag his Argentina teammates through games single-handedly as the Albiceleste marched towards another shot at glory.

Those exploits ultimately earned Argentina the opportunity to defend their crown as world champions, setting up a final showdown with Luis de la Fuente's Spain. When all was said and done, however, even Messi's individual brilliance could not account for the chasm in quality between the two sides in the decider.

Defeat does not diminish the achievement

Yet for Yamal, the heartbreak of that final result does nothing to take away from what Messi managed across the tournament. The Barcelona prodigy remains adamant that the forward's body of work in North America cemented his status as the best player at the competition — regardless of the outcome in the finale.

The comments add a layer of intrigue given Yamal himself likely faced Messi's Argentina in that showpiece, and they underline the enduring reverence the next generation of Spanish football holds for the Argentine icon even in defeat.