English darts player Luke Littler claimed he is the world's top performing athlete while dismissing the achievements of Spanish footballer Lamine Yamal. The 19-year-old darts prodigy stated that he is unimpressed by the FC Barcelona winger despite Yamal's recent World Cup victory with Spain.
Speaking to British tabloid newspaper The Sun on Saturday, August 1, Littler discussed who currently stands as the number one athlete on the planet. He noted that Jannik Sinner's victory at Wimbledon made the title difficult to declare, but maintained that his own style of winning matches, performing consistently, and taking home trophies is likely the best in sport.
The English star believes that almost nobody is capable of dethroning him after establishing himself among the most successful athletes of 2026. As a two-time reigning world champion, he expressed confidence in his current form across major competitions.
Criticism of World Cup performance
Littler, who was born in 2007 in the same year as Yamal, shifted focus to the Spanish forward's record during the summer tournament. He argued that Yamal did not deliver a dazzling performance during Spain's World Cup run, highlighting that the player managed only a single goal throughout the competition.
Nicknamed The Nuke, Littler questioned whether Yamal had accomplished much at the tournament and denied that the Spaniard is the best 19-year-old player in the world. Littler added that as long as he continues winning, playing well, and claiming trophies himself, that is all that matters.
Titles and historic match record
Yamal retains a strong club resume from the 2025-2026 season, having won both the Spanish championship and the Spanish Supercup with FC Barcelona. However, Littler has accumulated an impressive tally of four major titles this year, in addition to winning the Premier League and the World Cup in darts.
The Warrington native has also built a historic record on the stage, winning 66 of his 76 matches at major televised events. That sequence of victories has entered the record books of darts history, solidifying his self-proclaimed status at the top of world sport.
