At only 17 years old, Lamine Yamal now has two La Liga titles to his name – the same as Cristiano Ronaldo succeeded in Real Madrid in nine years.
Although his participation in the first was limited to a single short cameo as a record-breaking 15-year-old debutant, this season the winger is a main architect of Barcelona's success.
It was appropriate that he had to make the breakthrough against Espanyol on Thursday with a sensational curling effort when Barca won the title.
Lamine Yamal Doel Subsus versus Espanyoljose Breton Anadolu / Anadolu via AFP / StatsPerform
Yamal's breathtaking displays have a liveliness and life brought back to Barcelona that was missing since the greatest icon of the club, Lionel Messi, left in 2021.
Former Barca coach Xavi Hernandez brought Yamal for the last seven minutes of a victory over Real Betis in April 2023 in Camp Nou, while the Catalans won the competition for the first time since 2019.
It was a false dawn for a dutiful but boring Barca side, which ended trophies the following season, causing Xavi's exit to be crashed.
Real Madrid's La Liga and Champions League Double Left Barcelona Soul Searching, with the growth of Yamal the only light place.
At the beginning of 2024, the fast dribbling, very competent winger, had emerged as the most important attacker of the team – albeit there was no consistency yet.
Spain -coach Luis de la Fuente placed his confidence in the talent of the teenager and said that Yamal was “touched by the magical wand of God”, and he excelled in their euro 2024 triumph.
A good omen when for incoming Barca coach Hansi Flick, whose fairly flowing attacking style clicked with Yamal, as well as experienced striker Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha on the left flank.
Yamal won the right -wing position, which was the preferred role of the Brazilian dynamo, but Raphinha was happy to shift to house him.
“Seeing him coming in this stadium, with all these people, is incredible,” said Raphinha after the debut of Yamal, for 90,000 fans.
“He will be very important for the club.”
Raphinha was right and it happened much faster than he or Yamal could reasonably have expected.
“I left my fear in the park (my hometown) Mataro,” said Yamal, before I played in the recent semi-final of the Champions League against Inter Milan, where he produced two sensational displays when Barca came fractionally short.
Inter-aggregated by 7-6, but their coach Simone Inzaghi labeled Yamal a “phenomenon”, which only comes every 50 years “.
“No child”
With 13 assists, Yamal has the most in La Liga, and is the top dribbler, with almost double the quantity of his closest competition, Sevillen Dodi Lukebakio.
“The mentality of my team is incredible,” said Flick after Barcelona defeated Madrid 4-3 on Sunday to virtually seal their Liga Triumph.
Yamal's unstoppable teenage spirit is a big factor, with the younger fearless when Barcelona falls behind.
He flourished this season in all four Clasicos, as Barca triumphed every time.
They won the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup by beating Real in the final earlier in 2025, before completing a domestic treble with La Liga.
“He is not a child,” said Flick, after Barca returned from two goals to Madrid, inspired by Yamal, who gestured for calmness when his team stood against the wall.
“He has self -confidence, the belief in what he can do.”
Yamal's competition statistics versus Real Madrid in Lalalagongora / Nurphoto / Nurphoto via AFP / StattPerform
The winger remembers his roots and celebrates goals by indicating the 304 postal code of his neighborhood Rocafonda.
“Three trophies for Barca, no trophies for Real Madrid, four Clasicos won by Barca,” Barca Great Hristo Stoichkov joked.
Yamal is not afraid of a spicy jibe at Rivals himself, making him a hit on social media and confirms his favorite status of fans – his no 19 shirt is the top seller.
The winger will soon put pen on paper on a new Barcelona contract when he turns July 18.
He marked his 17th birthday by winning the next day Euro 2024, and this year he will celebrate by committing his future to the club with which he has been connected since birth.
Yamal joined Barca's Feted La Masia Youth Academy of seven years old, but as a baby was remarkably photographed by Messi Bathe by Messi for a charity calendar project.
The teenager shuns comparisons with Barca's best player ever and the eight time Ballon d'Or winner, but they still come.
With Barcelona from the Champions League, the hope of Yamal to win the coveted individual prize is dented, but he may not have to wait long.
“I am really happy that this talent that comes every 50 years is playing for Barca,” said Flick.