Lionel Messi snubs Cristiano Ronaldo when naming FIVE current players kids imitate most

Lionel Messi snubbed Cristiano Ronaldo when naming the five players that kids imitate most when they play football.

Eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi has dominated football over the past two decades, alongside his great rival Ronaldo.

However, with the pair both in the twilight of their careers, a new generation of stars are emerging.

When listing the players kids are now looking up to, Messi notably snubbed himself and Ronaldo, before mentioning their contemporary Robert Lewandowski alongside four of Europe’s brightest stars.

“Kids watch and imitate everything”, Messi told Simplemente Fútbol. “They know everyone and follow everyone, the players they talk about are Mbappe, Vini Junior, Haaland, Lewandowski and Lamine Yamal.”

Indeed, Messi reserved particular praise for fellow La Masia product Yamal, who helped Spain to Euro 2024 glory and is leading Barcelona to a potential treble this term, despite being just 17.

Messi said: "It’s impressive what Lamine Yamal is doing and has already achieved.

“He’s already a European champion with Spain. He’s just 17, in the middle of a growth process, and will keep on growing and contributing, just as I did.

“He has incredible quality and is already one of the best players in the world.”

Lamine Yamal is one of the brightest talents in world football (Getty)

Yamal inspired Barcelona’s comeback against Celta Vigo on Sunday, to see his side remain some seven points clear at the top of La Liga.

Barcelona came back from 3-1 down to win 4-3 and edge closer to the La Liga title.

Yamal’s club colleague Lewandoski has confessed in the past that he couldn’t believe the teenager’s age when they first played together.

The Poland icon said: "He came to train with us when he was 15 years old, I saw him for the first time.

“I've seen a lot of young, talented people, 'Oh, he's got something!', but I was never sure that there would be a great career behind it. Until I saw Lamine. And I said 'wow'. I asked him his age, he told me fifteen, and I replied that it was impossible."