Gerard Piqué and Iker Casillas shared many moments during their careers as rivals defending the jerseys of FC Barcelona and Real Madrid… but also as teammates in Spain. Now, retired, they have had a conversation in which Piqué made a strong statement about Lamine Yamal.

The beginnings of Messi and Lamine Yamal with Barcelona

At just 17 years old, Lamine Yamal is already a key player for Barcelona, was a champion of the European Championship with Spain, and won the latest Golden Boy as the best U-21 player in the world. These are significant achievements that, at this point in his career, place him above what Leo Messi has accomplished.

Messi’s official debut with Barcelona took place on October 16, 2004, at the age of 17 years and 114 days, while he didn’t score his first goal until May 2005. Lamine Yamal, however, has already been involved in over 50 goals throughout his professional career… and there are still five months until he turns 18.

The conversation between Piqué and Casillas about Lamine Yamal

For Gerard Piqué, however, these achievements don’t seem to be enough: “My feeling is that Lamine Yamal would not be playing in our generation,” confessed the former FC Barcelona player in this friendly conversation with his friend Iker Casillas, which will be available in full on February 26 to get the full context.

It is worth remembering that Gerard Piqué returned to FC Barcelona in the summer of 2008 from Manchester United. That season, Guardiola turned Messi into a global star after Ronaldinho’s departure to Milan, and Barcelona became champions of the treble.