Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal reacts after scoring throughout a Spanish La Liga soccer match between Espanyol and Barcelona in Barcelona, Spain, Thursday, Could 15, 2025. (AP Photograph/Jose Breton)
BARCELONA, Spain — When Lionel Messi left Barcelona it appeared like a era must go by earlier than one other participant of his unbelievable expertise would don the burgundy and blue.
It turned out a few years was sufficient.
READ: Barcelona clinches its twenty eighth La Liga title, home treble
Lamine Yamal’s murals. 🖼️#EspanyolBarça | #LaLigaHighlights pic.twitter.com/V5hLumNckY
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) Could 16, 2025
Lamine Yamal cemented his standing because the Subsequent Huge Factor in international soccer by excelling in a season that noticed Barcelona end with treble of home titles.
Fittingly sufficient, the 17-year-old scored the decisive objective to clinch the Spanish league crown on Thursday.
Defenders know what’s coming when Yamal dips his head and begins his dribble from the precise facet throughout the sting of the world. They know he’s looking for the sliver of area to get his incredible left-foot roller off. However Espanyol’s gamers – like so many others this season — might do nothing to cease him from whipping the ball into the highest nook of the online to spark the 2-0 victory.
“We’ve got a child who can pull gold out of his boots,” Raphinha stated about Yamal.
Inevitable comparisons to Messi
Whereas he has dismissed comparisons to Messi, or some other participant for that matter, it’s inconceivable to not see flashes of the Argentine’s majestic strikes in his younger toes, particularly after the soccer planets aligned to place them collectively in a photograph when Yamal was only a child.
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They each terrorize defenses from the precise flank of Barcelona’s assault, chopping inside to place the ball on their prized left boot.
However Yamal has his personal skills. His gliding strikes are his personal, as is his lithe, elastic physique. And whereas Messi was maybe a greater finisher at this age, Yamal is simply pretty much as good a dribbler and maybe even a greater passer.
His capacity to jink previous double groups and rating lovely targets make the highlights, as do these beautiful crosses he makes with the skin fringe of his boot to drop balls into the field.
A stellar begin to a promising profession
To say that Yamal has a solution to go to match Messi is the understatement of the season.
Messi received his first Spanish league and Champions League titles when he was 18 years outdated. He hit his first hat trick, in opposition to Actual Madrid nonetheless, at age 19. He went on to attain a membership file 672 targets in 778 appearances, successful 4 European Cups, 10 league titles and eight Copa del Rey crowns en path to being awarded the Ballon d’Or six instances whereas with Barcelona. He then took Argentina to the World Cup title.
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However at this stage, Yamal certain seems to be destined to change into an excellent, nice participant in his personal proper.
Yamal has set just about each file for youngest no matter for Barcelona and Spain, from youngest scorer in La Liga historical past to youngest scorer in a European Championship, amongst many extra. His debut at age 15, turning into the youngest Barcelona participant in La Liga, in April 2023 guarantees to be remembered as a milestone for the Catalan membership.
He already has two league titles, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Tremendous Cup, and the European title for Spain, earlier than he turns 18 in July.
Statistics again up his game-by-game impression. Yamal leads the league in assists with 13 this season, whereas he additionally has by far essentially the most dribbles to get previous opponents with 149, over 60 greater than some other participant. He additionally exhibits a swagger and skill to be a vocal chief for his workforce that the quiet teenage Messi took years to develop.
Extra to return
Yamal’s continued his speedy rise through the first season below Hansi Flick. The ahead stated the German coach gave Barcelona “new life” after successful nothing within the earlier marketing campaign, and that extra was to return.
READ: Two late targets as Barcelona rallies to beat Atletico Madrid 4-2
“This is essential for the membership to win these titles, we really feel like we’re winners,” Yamal stated. “Now I feel the mentality of the membership goes to alter.”
Barcelona’s future seems to be even brighter when contemplating that Yamal is surrounded by younger standouts.
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Pedri is an elite midfield participant who at 22 years outdated has already put in 200 appearances for his membership. Centerback mainstay Pau Cubarsí is simply 18. Gavi Páez is 20, Alejandro Balde 21, and Fermín López 22.
So Actual Madrid and the remainder of European soccer beware. Barcelona has the potential to determine a dynasty often known as the Yamal Period.
