Overview

• Desire Doué’s emphatic “Me” response to a fan question has intensified debate over which teen prodigy leads the next generation of football stars.
• Upon turning 18, Lamine Yamal inherited Barcelona’s iconic No. 10 shirt and marked his Asia tour debut by scoring twice in a 7-3 friendly win over FC Seoul.
• Club president Joan Laporta compared Yamal’s current form to Lionel Messi, calling him “the best in the world” in today’s game.
• Both players delivered standout 2024/25 seasons—Yamal with 18 goals and 25 assists, Doué with 16 goals and 14 assists—elevating their Ballon d’Or prospects.
• Their rivalry underscores a new era driven by youth development and social media narratives in elite football.