Manchester City’s prolific striker Erling Haaland was left in awe of Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal after the 17-year-old delivered a breathtaking performance in a 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semifinal first leg. The electrifying match at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys showcased Yamal’s extraordinary talent, earning praise from one of football’s biggest stars.
Yamal, marking his 100th appearance for Barcelona, was the catalyst for the hosts’ comeback after Inter Milan surged to a 2-0 lead with goals from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries. The young winger ignited the fightback with a stunning solo goal in the 24th minute, weaving through Inter’s defense before curling a precise shot off the post to become the youngest-ever goalscorer in a Champions League semifinal. His relentless energy and flair tormented Inter’s backline, with Yamal also striking the crossbar twice, including a audacious late effort that nearly clinched victory.
Watching from afar, Haaland, currently sidelined by an ankle injury, took to Snapchat to express his admiration, posting a picture of his laptop streaming the match with the caption, “This guy is incredible!” The Norwegian’s reaction quickly went viral, with fans and pundits alike echoing his sentiments.
Yamal’s performance drew comparisons to a young Lionel Messi, with former Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand labeling him “truly unbelievable” and claiming he’s “on another level to any player in the top five leagues” (Sportskeeda). Inter Milan’s coach Simone Inzaghi went further, describing Yamal as “the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years” (BBC Sport). Barcelona coach Hansi Flick also lauded his star, saying, “Yamal showed us the way forward” after the team battled back from deficits twice.
The match itself was a rollercoaster. Inter’s early dominance was undone by Yamal’s brilliance and Fermin Lopez’s equalizer before halftime. Dumfries restored Inter’s lead in the 64th minute, but Raphinha’s strike, which deflected off Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer for an own goal, leveled the scoreline again. Despite late chances, including Yamal’s near-miss, the tie remains finely poised ahead of the second leg in Milan.
Haaland’s public admiration adds to the growing hype around Yamal, who has already notched four goals and four assists in 11 Champions League appearances this season, alongside six goals and 14 assists in LaLiga (Yahoo Sports). His synergy with Raphinha has produced more goals than any other duo in the competition, with the pair creating 16 chances for each other (BBC Sport).