'a Talent That Comes Along Every 50 Years' - 'genius' Yamal Steals Show

Teenage Barcelona guardant Lamine Yamal said he would not comparison himself to Lionel Messi - and past put successful a capacity a 17-year-old Messi could only person dreamed of successful 1 of nan all-time awesome Champions League semi-final ties.

It led to him being called "a genius", "a cheat code" and "a phenomenal talent".

Barca and Inter Milan ended up drafting 3-3 successful their epic first-leg encounter, pinch visiting full-back Denzel Dumfries progressive successful each 3 Inter goals, scoring twice, and being named man of nan match.

But astir of nan world headlines will attraction connected nan 17-year-old Yamal, who scored his 22nd extremity connected his landmark 100th Barcelona game.

He put connected a masterclass, particularly successful nan first half to animate a superb comeback aft Inter had led 2-0 by nan 21st minute.

Yamal claimed a prestigious Champions League semi-final extremity to spell pinch 1 successful nan Euro 2024 past 4 past summer. Already 1 of nan champion players successful nan world - and earlier he moreover turns 18.

"I don't deliberation I person seen a 45 minutes for illustration from 1 individual earlier successful my life. It is unbelievable," said TNT Sport pundit Ally McCoist arsenic nan players walked disconnected nan transportation astatine half-time.

Inter Milan leader Simone Inzaghi gave Yamal nan highest of praise afterwards.

"Lamine is nan benignant of talent that comes on each 50 years, and to spot him up adjacent really impressed me," he said.

"He caused america immense problems because we were expected to double up connected him and it wasn't enough."

Barca leader Hansi Flick said: "He's special. He's a genius. In nan large matches, he shows up.

"If it only comes each 50 years for illustration Simone said, I'm gladsome it's for Barcelona."

BBC pundit Stephen Warnock called him "a early Ballon d'Or winner".

One of nan games of nan play has everyone excited astir nan 2nd limb astatine nan San Siro successful Milan adjacent week, a alteration of gait from Paris St-Germain's hard-fought 1-0 triumph astatine Arsenal nan time before.

There was a spot of play earlier nan crippled erstwhile Yamal appeared to wounded his groin and went down nan passageway during nan warm-up, pinch speculation that he mightiness not play.

He did commencement but had hardly had an effect earlier Inter led 2-0 via 2 awesome goals - Marcus Thuram's 30-second backheel flick from a Dumfries cross, and Dutchman Dumfries' flying close-range volley.

But past Yamal - who was being double marked - came to life, beating a fewer Inter players earlier whipping nan shot successful disconnected nan acold station pinch astonishing easiness and confidence.

Moments later, he hit much defenders connected nan byeline and slammed successful a changeable which Inter keeper Yann Sommer tipped connected to nan bar.

Ferran Torres past capped disconnected a good squad move to get Barca level earlier nan break.

Dumfries, though, sewage his 2nd pinch a header to put nan Italian broadside backmost successful front.

But moments later Barca were level again arsenic Yamal cleverly dummied a walk and Raphinha lashed a changeable successful from 25 yards which deed nan barroom and went successful disconnected nan backmost of Sommer for an ain goal.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan thought he had made it 4-3 to Inter but his extremity was ruled retired for a marginal offside.

Yet Yamal almost had nan last say, 1 much memorable moment, erstwhile his cross-shot deed nan perspective of station and bar.

It is reliable to moreover fathom really overmuch Yamal has achieved astatine his age.

This was his 100th Barcelona appearance, and a 22nd extremity to spell pinch 4 successful 19 games for Spain.

Yamal has 27 assists too, including 2 successful Saturday's Copa del Rey last extra-time win complete Real Madrid.

The 2 top players of this procreation - Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo - did not make their world debuts until they were 18, while Yamal won Euro 2024 nan time aft his 17th birthday.

Messi scored 1 extremity earlier he was 18, pinch Ronaldo bagging five.

Yamal is Barcelona's youngest La Liga subordinate (aged 15) and nan youngest to people and assistance successful La Liga for immoderate team.

He besides holds records for being nan youngest Champions League starter, youngest subordinate to people successful a knockout game, a quarter-final and now a semi-final.

Yamal is Spain's youngest subordinate and goalscorer and nan youngest subordinate and goalscorer successful a European Championship.

Very fewer players person had nan effect successful shot by Yamal's age. He will move 18 successful July.

He appears to beryllium nan closest point we person seen to Barcelona and Argentina awesome Messi, now astatine Inter Miami and arguably nan top footballer successful history.

The brace some came done nan Barca academy, La Masia, and some play connected nan correct wing.

"I don't comparison myself to him, because I don't comparison myself to anyone - and overmuch little pinch Messi," Yamal told reporters successful nan build-up to nan game, while besides describing nan Argentine arsenic "the champion subordinate successful history".

But Messi was conscionable very, very promising astatine nan property of 17, alternatively than already regarded arsenic 1 of nan world's best.

Yamal added: "I don't deliberation nan comparison makes sense, pinch Messi moreover little - I'm going to bask myself, and beryllium myself."

But he has an different spot of history pinch Messi, who he was photographed pinch arsenic a baby.

A photograph emerged, external from a kindness almanac photoshoot taken astatine Barcelona's Nou Camp successful 2007.

In it, a 20-year-old Messi held babe Yamal and helped him person a bath. Yes really.

The sprout came astir aft Unicef did a raffle successful nan municipality of Mataro wherever Lamine's family lived.

"We walked down to nan metropolis centre and you could show location is simply a superstar successful this municipality now successful Lamine Yamal," said ex-England defender Rio Ferdinand connected TNT Sports.

"There was a void erstwhile Messi left, this kid is doing worldly astatine 17 we person ne'er seen before. The comfortableness and easiness he plays pinch is singular and he is arsenic astatine easiness disconnected nan field."

Pundits were successful awe astatine what they saw from Yamal.

Owen Hargreaves, nan erstwhile Bayern Munich, Manchester United and England midfielder, called him a "cheat code" connected TNT.

"I conscionable want to spot Lamine Yamal get nan shot and everybody other get retired of nan way," he added.

Former Liverpool and England defender Warnock, watching for BBC's Champions League Match of nan Day, said: "He was unplayable astatine times. His extremity was outrageous.

"It's ridiculous watching Yamal. You know, effectively, what he ever wants to do – he wants to travel wrong connected his near foot. So you over-compensate and he has sewage nan expertise to resistance it pinch his near ft connected to his correct foot, and he tin really put a decent shot successful pinch his correct ft too.

"He is conscionable a phenomenal talent and I emotion watching him."

And Ferdinand wrote connected societal media: "As a axenic shot talent I'm going arsenic acold arsenic to opportunity I deliberation Lamine Yamal is connected different level to immoderate subordinate playing nan crippled successful nan apical 5 leagues successful world football. Truly unbelievable."

Watch highlights of each Champions League crippled from 22:00 connected Wednesday connected BBC iPlayer and nan BBC Sport website and app.

There will besides beryllium a Champions League Match of nan Day connected BBC One connected Wednesday, from 22:40 to 00:00.