Spain winger Lamine Yamal said he is thrilled to see Lionel Messi continue defying the passage of time and delivering standout performances at this year's World Cup, praising the 39-year-old Argentine captain just days before Spain's own quarterfinal clash against Belgium.

Messi currently leads the tournament's Golden Boot race with eight goals and delivered another standout showing in Argentina's dramatic 3-2 comeback win over Egypt on Tuesday, a result that carried the defending champions into the quarterfinals. Asked about Messi's continued excellence at this stage of his career, Yamal, 18, did not hold back his admiration in comments to Spanish outlet El Mundo Deportivo. "Incredible," Yamal said. "Everyone knows who Messi is, but no one expected him to be playing at such a high level. I'm really happy for him."

Messi was named the tournament's most valuable player when Argentina ended a 36-year wait for a third World Cup title in Qatar in 2022, and the Inter Miami forward has now scored in nine consecutive World Cup matches dating back to that triumph. Yamal, who inherited Messi's iconic No. 10 shirt at Barcelona last season, has often been compared to the Argentine great as one of the sport's brightest young talents, making his comments about Messi's continued dominance carry particular weight.

Beyond Messi, Yamal also expressed appreciation for two other........

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