Lamine Yamal is arguably the best player in the world right now. The 17-year-old had a season worthy of the Ballon d’Or and showcased talent that had the world in total awe. The joy that Lamine has brought to Barça and football fans since his debut is irreplaceable. It all started when Xavi HernĂĄndez instantly recognised the kid to be special.
Lamine Yamal’s rise through the ranks of La Masia
Barcelona scouts had discovered Lamine in 2014 when he was 7 years old, playing for CF La Torreta. It didn’t take long for the club to bring the kid to their prestigious La Masia academy. Lamine enjoyed immense success as he scored 56 goals in just 30 games. In an interview with ESPN, ex La Masia coach Albert Puig said, âI coached Lamine with the U9s and later with the U13s,â Puig told ESPN. âWhat surprised me most with him is not that he was already a lot better than the rest of his teammates in both age groups, but as time passed, rather than things balancing out, which usually happens, Lamine stood out even more.â Barcelona made an exception for Lamine to stay at the academy’s residency, as only Catalans live there.
The debut vs Real Betis
Xavi had noticed Lamine Yamal’s prodigious talent and called him up to train with the first team. The 15 year old gem continued to impress Xavi in training sessions, and the Spanish manager knew he deserved a first-team debut. Xavi was looking for the perfect opportunity to hand Lamine his debut under a pressure-free situation. On April 29th, 2023, when Lamine was only 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days old, Barcelona were leading 4-0 against Real Betis and Lamine finally got his chance. In the 83rd minute Gavi made way for Lamine Yamal as the Camp Nou applauded both the youngsters.
In the 11 minutes that Lamine Yamal played, he kept the spectators on the edge of their seats. The Starboy came close to scoring in multiple moments and assisting Dembele with a beautiful chip over the defense. By the time the referee had blown the final whistle, the Camp Nou had realised that this kid is special and will go on to make history. That is exactly what happened as Lamine Yamal became a star for Barcelona and led Spain to become Euro 2024 Champions. Lamine Yamal is surely a future Ballon d’Or winner, even if he doesn’t win it this year. The present and future of not just Barcelona, but of football itself.
