Lamine Yamal has been on Barcelona’s book for more than a decade but a picture of the 17-year-old during Covid has surfaced to underline how young the Spanish star is
A photo of a youthful Lamine Yamal has resurfaced online to leave fans stunned. The Barcelona star is making waves, already regarded among the world’s top players, despite being just 17.
He’s often the youngest player on the pitch when he plays but a picture of him playing for Barcelona’s youth side has re-emerged with the teenager looking even more of a fresh face. The picture is from a game where Barcelona tore apart Real Madrid – leading 4-0 before the half hour mark.
And Yamal, who has continued to strike against Real, will only have just become a teenager when the snap was taken. When the Covid lockdown was first imposed the Barcelona star was only 12. One fan said: “Wild, I now feel old” whilst another added: “Time travels so fast”.
Just three years later and the winger would make his Barcelona debut. He came off the bench for the first on April 29 2023, replacing Gavi late on against Real Betis in La Liga. He walked onto the pitch at the age of 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days. In doing so Yamal became the youngest player to feature for Barcelona since Armando Sagi in 1922 – more than a century before.
Now Yamal is a La Liga winner, a Euro 2024 champion and recently claimed the first Copa del Rey of his career. In just a months time the Barcelona star could add another Spanish title and the Champions League with the Catalans in the semi-final.
READ MORE: Thierry Henry demands return of axed Champions League rule after Barcelona vs Inter dramaREAD MORE: Inter star Marcus Thuram insists there are two players better than ‘genius’ Lamine Yamal
The teenage sensation stole the show during their highly-entertaining 3-3 draw with Inter Milan. He scored a brilliant solo goal, jinking in and out of players before opening up his body to finish with his left foot. He nearly added a brilliant second, only to be denied by the bar.
Yamal is the latest La Masia graduate, following the likes of Lionel Messi and Andres Iniesta, with Rio Ferdinand declaring: “As a pure football talent I’m going as far as to say I think Lamine Yamal is on another level to any player playing the game in the top 5 leagues in world football. 17yrs old – Truly unbelievable.”
Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi said after watching the teen cause his defensive line constant problems: “Lamine is the kind of talent that comes along every 50 years, and to see him up close really impressed me. He caused us huge problems because we were supposed to double up on him and it wasn’t enough.”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick followed that and added: “He’s special, he’s a genius. In the big matches, he shows up. If it only comes every 50 years like Simone said, I’m glad it’s for Barcelona.”
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