Lamine Yamal – Barcelona's new "Number 10" and his brilliant 18-year-old journey

Lamine Yamal celebrated his 18th birthday on July 13 and immediately became the center of attention across Europe when Barcelona gave him the legendary No. 10 shirt - the number that once belonged to Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, Hristo Stoichkov... Like Messi before, Yamal does not want to compare himself with anyone, not even Messi himself. "I am on my own path," he affirmed.

Future expectations

In a world of football dominated by statistics, media noise and the never-ending quest to find the next Lionel Messi, it would be strange for Lamine Yamal to go unnoticed.

At the age of 18, Yamal has played 106 matches for the Barcelona first team, much more than Messi at the same age. Last season, he scored 18 goals and had 25 assists, contributing greatly to Barcelona's hat-trick of Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup and La Liga titles. In the national team, Yamal also helped the Spanish team win the Euro 2024 championship with a personal record of 21 matches and 6 goals.

The remarkable progress has helped Yamal be rewarded by Barcelona with a new contract until 2031, with a basic salary increased tenfold, around 16 million euros/year and "absolutely protected" by a super-huge release clause of up to 1 billion euros. That is a number that shows Yamal's strategic importance in the long-term plan of the Catalan team.

Not only talented, Yamal also showed a rare maturity at the age of 18. After the bitter defeat against Inter Milan in the Champions League semi-finals, he did not give up but immediately set his sights on other goals with Barcelona. That is the mettle of a future champion.

Off the field, Yamal remains a happy, sociable boy. Born in Mataro – a difficult land in Catalonia – he is always proud of his hometown. Every time Yamal scores a goal, he celebrates with the sign "304" – the last three digits of the postal code of Rocafonda, where he grew up. His family has been the biggest support in this young man's career. His strict father, devoted mother and loving grandmother have always kept Yamal's feet on the ground.

Yamal's playing style reminds many people of Messi: fast dribbling, delicate handling and excellent ability to create. But unlike Messi, Yamal is not a real "killer" in the penalty area. He is still working hard to improve himself, as he himself admitted: "I need to improve my scoring instinct even more".

However, humility and learning spirit are the points that make experts believe Yamal will go far.

Noisy and gossipy

New Barcelona coach Hansi Flick highly appreciates his young player’s professionalism and progressive attitude. In the eyes of his teammates, Yamal is “a special character” – someone who brings laughter and joy to the team.

But Yamal's 18 years of age are not all about football. He recently caused a stir when he was accused of hiring dwarf entertainers at his birthday party, prompting the Spanish Ministry of Social Affairs to request an investigation. However, the player himself has remained silent, focusing on his career.

For now, Barcelona and its fans are expecting Yamal to lead the team's attack in the new season. Last season, he contributed 18 goals and 25 assists, helping Barcelona win the domestic treble (La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup).

Yamal has also won the Golden Boy and Kopa awards for 'Best Young Player of the Year' in Europe, and the question is no longer if he will win the 'Golden Ballon d'Or', but when. His confidence is not only evident on the pitch. "I will bring the Champions League to the Nou Camp," Yamal declared after Barca were eliminated by Inter Milan in the semi-finals of the 2024-2025 Champions League.

And Yamal will begin his journey to fulfill that promise with a new shirt number (number 10) inherited from his close friend Ansu Fati, who has just moved to Monaco. It is a decision that shows the absolute trust that Barcelona has placed in Yamal, and that the future of the Catalan team will be placed on the "precious gem" who just turned 18. At the upcoming 2026 World Cup, this 18-year-old boy is also expected to become the inspiration of the Spanish team.

Lamine Yamal – the boy who used to play football on the corner of Rocafonda – now wears the prestigious number 10 shirt of Barcelona, embarking on a journey to prove he is worthy of it.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/lamine-yamal-so-10-moi-cua-barcelona-va-hanh-trinh-tuoi-18-ruc-ro-196250717075157863.htm