Darts prodigy Luke Littler says he'a a superior talent to Lamine Yamal

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FT Desk

Darts sensation Luke Littler believes he, not Lamine Yamal, is the best 19-year-old athlete on the planet.

Over the past couple of years, both young men have emerged as prodigious talents in their respective sports.

This summer, Yamal won the World Cup with Spain and two years previously he won the European Championships with La Roja, too, while he has won La Liga with Barcelona.

Littler, meanwhile, is one of the biggest stars in darts and is widely regarded as one of the sport's brightest-ever talents. He burst onto the scene by reaching the final of the 2024 PDC World Darts Championship at just 16 years old, before becoming the youngest world champion in history by winning the title in 2025.

His rapid rise also saw him claim major honours including the Premier League, Grand Slam of Darts, UK Open and World Matchplay.

He has continued to build on that success, establishing himself as the dominant player in the sport. By the age of 19, he had won back-to-back World Championships, reached world No. 1 and collected multiple televised major titles.

At the Betfred World Matchplay in Blackpool, he set a record 111.53 three-dart average in the final against Gerwyn Price, which he won.

When asked if he was the most dominant athlete in the world currently, Luke Littler namechecked tennis' Jannik Sinner before mentioning Yamal.

“Obviously at the minute it’s hard to say. With Sinner winning Wimbledon," he said, as quoted by the Sun.

“But yes, the way I’m winning games and the way I’m producing and picking up trophies, it’s probably the best out there.

“Obviously Spain won the World Cup and everyone is talking about Lamine Yamal. I mean he didn’t really do much, did he? Scored maybe one goal. Assisted, too.

“Is he the best 19-year-old in the world? No, he’s not!

“As long as I’m winning, playing well and picking up trophies, then that’s all that matters.”

Yamal did indeed score just one goal at the World Cup, though it was generally accepted that he entered the tournament not fully fit after being out for eight weeks due to a hamstring injury.

Luke Littler’s support of Man Utd

Little is a fan of Premier League giants Manchester United.

The teenager admitted in an interview in 2024 that he is a big supporter of the Red Devils and that he had received plenty of well-wishes from United players during the World Championship that year.

“Obviously I’ve got a lot of followers now,” Littler said.

“I’ve had a message off Luke Shaw from Manchester United, Rio Ferdinand and I had a message off Gary Neville and Jonny Evans before my game against Barney so it’s just crazy.

“People I’ve looked up to and especially my club Manchester United, wishing me luck.”