Featured Image Credit: TNT Sports
Topics: Rio Ferdinand, Lamine Yamal, Football, Barcelona, Champions League
Nasir Jabbar
Topics: Rio Ferdinand, Lamine Yamal, Football, Barcelona, Champions League
Rio Ferdinand made a bold claim about Lamine Yamal as he shared his honest take on the Barcelona superstar's Champions League heroics.
Yamal shone as Barca and Inter Milan played out a thrilling 3-3 draw in Spain on Wednesday.
The visitors opened the scoring in the first minute when Marcus Thuram produced a lovely flick finish. Denzel Dumfries doubled his side's advantage before Yamal inspired his team's comeback.
Yamal channeled his inner Lionel Messi as he curled home a stunning strike to reduce the deficit, with Ferran Torres levelling proceedings.
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Dumfries put Inter back in the lead before Raphinha smashed a long-range strike, which hit Yann Sommer before crossing the line.
With his two goals, Dumfries won the Player of the Match award - but it was Yamal who lit up the semi-final first-leg clash.
His first-half showing stunned Manchester City forward Erling Haaland.
Ferdinand also sang his praises as he made an outlandish claim during the interval of Barca vs. Inter.
He claimed the 17-year-old is 'on another level' to any player that is playing in the top five leagues in world football.
On X, the Manchester United legend wrote: "As a pure football talent I’m going as far as to say I think Lamine Yamal is on another level to any player playing the game in the top 5 leagues in world football.
"17yrs old - Truly unbelievable."
After the game, Ferdinand and Ally McCoist continued to marvel over Yamal's performance.
McCoist said: "As good a 45 minutes I have seen in a long time. To watch him close up, we had a brilliant view, balls with the outside and inside of his left.
"The goal was majestic, there are so many aspects to his game that are first-class, for a 17-year-old boy, it’s as if he has been playing 15-20 years, his game knowledge is incredible."