Looking at the talent this generation has produced, it is safe to say that some players feel like they were born in the wrong era. One of the names is Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal, who dribbles past defenders like it’s a piece of cake, and his knife-sharp vision is second to none.
Let’s imagine a case what if this teenage phenomenon had been dropped into Pep Guardiola’s legendary 2008–09 Barcelona side? It’s an exciting “what if” that allows us to step into an era where Barcelona weren’t just winning, they were demolishing teams.
Time Travel to 2009
This is 2009. Pep Guardiola, a young manager from the La Masia system. He assembled what many call the greatest club side in football history. Barcelona lined up with a fluid 4-3-3 formation, a setup revolutionized by Johan Cruyff and modernized by his student Pep Guardiola. Pep’s midfield consisted of the infamous trio of Xavi, Iniesta, and Busquets. The front line was led by young Lionel Messi, flanked by Samuel Eto’o and Thierry Henry.
The team played in a way football felt like poetry in motion. And imagine a young Lamine Yamal on this side. Where people talk about trios, Lamine and Messi’s duo would’ve been unstoppable.
The Right Fit
Lamine is blessed with natural flair quick decision-making, and fearless dribbling. He is a blend of a street footballer and a technical player. His playing style and courage are far beyond years. If he had been a 16-year-old in 2009, Pep would have looked at him and seen what he saw in a young Messi years earlier.
In that system, Lamine would’ve had it easier. With the assistance of Dani Alves overlapping behind and Xavi feeding him with passes, Lamine’s creativity and fearlessness could’ve been a cheat code for Barcelona.
There is something unimaginable, Pep whispering tactics to a young Lamine on the sidelines. Pep was a master at growing an individual with a cohesive unit, with Messi at the False 9 position, drawing defenders towards him and playing Lamine a ball with acres of space. Lamine’s ability to cut in and take a shot would’ve made him a nightmare for even the best defenses. He would’ve been a knife through butter in that team, with his smooth instincts. There is a recent case, would Lamine fit in 4-3-3, there is no doubt Pep would’ve adjusted him well.
The Race for The Best
To be honest, Lamine and Messi in the same team feels like a FIFA Career Mode where you have an unlimited budget. If the two were together the Balon d’ Or race would’ve been tough for Messi. With both La Masia attackers flourishing under Pep and learning from experienced players, this could turn them into a proper force.
Football evolves but true talent is always appreciated, whether it’s 2009 or 2025. Lamine at this tender age would’ve thrived under the guidance of Pep. But we need to observe the reality. Lamine is the kind of personality not just walking in the footsteps of legends — he’s making footprints of his own. What if? In the future, we might ask what if a future wonderkid played with Lamine, the same as we talk about Lamine with Messi.