Jordi Alba, one of the players who understood Lionel Messi best on the pitch, has once again made it clear why any attempt to compare Barcelona’s new prodigy, Lamine Yamal, with the Argentine superstar is, for now, a pointless exercise. Nearing retirement at the end of the season, the Spanish full-back spoke candidly about a subject that always fuels debate in the Barça environment.

The phrase that says it all: “Leo has no rival”

During an interview with El Larguero, Alba was asked about the teenage sensation currently dazzling at Barça. And while he praised the 17-year-old winger’s talent, he immediately drew a line.

“He’s an extraordinary player,” he said of Lamine Yamal. Then came the three words that shut down any comparison: “Leo has no rival.”

The veteran defender explained that the current Barça squad is full of top-tier talent like Pedri, Gavi and Frenkie de Jong, but placing Yamal in the same discussion as Messi, even projecting his potential, is premature. For Alba, the true difference lies in something that cannot be trained: maintaining a world-class standard for more than a decade.

“Only time will tell if he can sustain that winning mentality for so many years. What Leo did was unique,” he stated.

Alba also highlighted how he sees Messi today at Inter Miami: happy, competitive and still decisive, which is why he believes it made perfect sense for the Argentine to renew his contract. “Sharing a career with him is a privilege,” he added.

Messi’s Barcelona exit and a wound that still hasn’t healed

Alba also recalled how he experienced Messi’s unexpected departure from Barcelona in 2021, describing it as “a devastating blow.”

“I found out through the media. It wasn’t the farewell he deserved. Hopefully he gets the tribute he’s owed,” he said.

Regarding Messi’s recent visit to the Camp Nou, which sent the entire city into a frenzy, Alba was clear: Messi has the keys to the stadium because he earned them. “It’s normal. He’s the best player in history,” he insisted.

He even weighed in on the proposal to add “Lionel Messi” to the name of the renovated Camp Nou, an idea that sparked debate among fans. For Alba, there’s no need to dramatize it: “I don’t think Leo wants that. Camp Nou is fine. But anything done to honor him will be positive for the Barça fans.”