Why hasn't Messi put Lamine Yamal on the top yet?

Messi's vote in the FIFA The Best awards always attracts attention.

That decision wasn't a turning away from young talent, but rather a stark message about the standards of excellence, where potential must still be validated.

Messi's reason

When FIFA released the details of the The Best ballots, Lionel Messi's vote quickly sparked debate. No fanfare, no statements, just a few numbers. But those numbers spoke louder than any explanation.

Messi chose Ousmane Dembele as number one, Kylian Mbappe second, and Lamine Yamal third. This order surprised, and even disappointed, many, especially considering Yamal was at the center of public expectations.

The surprise stems from the context. Lamine Yamal is the new icon of Spanish football, the young face most talked about globally in the past year. At 18, Yamal was already a starter for Barcelona, made his mark with the national team, and became an inspiring story for the next generation. In the eyes of many, that was more than enough to be placed on par with, or even surpass, established stars.

But Messi doesn't see football that way.

Messi's vote doesn't negate Yamal's contribution. On the contrary, placing an 18-year-old in the top 3 in the world is already a huge recognition. What Messi didn't do was push Yamal to the center of the race. And that's the message worth analyzing.

Messi ranked Lamine Yamal third on the list.

Messi gave the number one spot to Dembele, a choice clearly based on "internal professional judgment." Dembele isn't the name most hyped by the media, but he's the player who makes a direct, clear, and repeated impact at the highest level. For Messi, top-level football isn't just about flashy moments, but about the ability to make a difference in must-win matches.

Mbappe comes in second, undeniably. That's due to his consistency, performance, and proven track record across many seasons and on many big stages. Mbappe needs no further validation. He's been there long enough to be a benchmark.

And then there's Yamal, in third place.

This ranking isn't a sign of "ignorance," but rather a boundary Messi has drawn between potential and peak performance. Yamal had everything to become a superstar: technique, speed, confidence, and a rare personality for a teenager. But for Messi, that wasn't enough to surpass players who had carried their teams, decided matches, and endured intense pressure for extended periods.

This clearly reflects how Messi views football. He doesn't vote based on trends or collective emotions. Messi understands that early talent doesn't necessarily mean early success. He himself was a prodigy, hailed from a very young age, but he also understands the cost of maintaining peak performance season after season.

Dembele was the name Messi chose at the top of the poll.

Therefore, the controversy surrounding this vote doesn't really lie with Messi, but with public expectations. People wanted Yamal to be placed at the forefront as a symbol of the future. Messi didn't do that. He placed Yamal in the right position: very high, but not yet the highest.

Yamal is still the future of football.

From another perspective, this is also a necessary reminder for Yamal himself. Being ranked among the top 3 in the world by a legend at the age of 18 is a great honor. But not being ranked number one is actually a motivation. Football doesn't reward early success, but rewards the ability to go the distance.

Messi's vote, therefore, reflects the perspective of someone who has experienced it all: glory, pressure, doubt, and the harsh realities of top-level football. He doesn't need to sugarcoat the future or pander to public opinion. Messi simply votes according to what he believes to be the standard of elite football.

Ultimately, the message is clear: Yamal is the future. But the present, and the pinnacle, still belong to those who have proven their worth in the toughest moments of world football.

Messi doesn't reject the new generation. He just reminds them of one thing: the pinnacle isn't about promises, but about proof.

Source: https://znews.vn/vi-sao-messi-chua-dat-lamine-yamal-len-dinh-post1612093.html