Steven Gerrard predicts Lamine Yamal as best young player of World Cup

Steven Gerrard has never been one to shy away from a prediction. The former Liverpool and England captain went on TNT Sports on June 11 and laid out his picks for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, naming Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal as the player most likely to claim the Best Young Player award.

The full Gerrard World Cup forecast

Yamal wasn’t the only name Gerrard dropped during the segment. He also tipped Lionel Messi as the best overall player of the tournament and Julián Álvarez as the top scorer.

“I think Lamine Yamal will be the best young player in the World Cup.”

The surprise team pick was perhaps the spiciest of the lot: Uruguay. Not exactly a minnow, given their two World Cup titles, but certainly not among the consensus favorites heading into the tournament.

Why Yamal is the obvious and correct pick

Yamal became Spain’s youngest ever goalscorer at a major tournament during Euro 2024. He did this at 16 years old. By the time the World Cup kicks off in North America, Yamal will have had two more seasons of top-flight football at Barcelona under his belt. He’s already a starter for both club and country.

The Álvarez pick for top scorer is also notable. The former Manchester City striker has consistently shown he can deliver in tournament football, having played a key role in Argentina’s 2022 World Cup triumph.

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