Barcelona youngster Lamine Yamal’s goal at the clash against Granada made him the league’s youngest goalscorer at the age of 16 years and 87 days. Lamine Yamal brought Barcelona back into the game shortly before halftime when Joao Felix found him, and he curled the ball into an empty net from point-blank range against Granada on Sunday at the Los Carmenes Stadium. Yamal’s goal helped Barcelona to secure a point in the match. However, the club was disappointed not to win, as they had produced a near-comeback performance in the second half.
Lamine Yamal is Barcelona’s Golden Boy
He surpassed the previous record held by Fabrice Olinga of Malaga, who scored at the age of 16 years and 98 days back in 2012. Yamal had previously made his debut for Barcelona at the age of 15 years and 290 days against Real Betis in April last season.
In the current season, Yamal achieved further milestones by becoming La Liga’s youngest starter in the 21st century. He also became the youngest player to provide an assist within the same timeframe. Additionally, he made headlines last month by becoming Spain’s youngest-ever player and goal scorer when La Roja dominated Georgia 7-1 in a Euro 2024 qualifier.
From La Masia to main team
Born to a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, Yamal began his journey with Barcelona’s youth academy at the age of seven. He then gradually established himself as one of La Masia’s most promising talents. Despite having a relatively slender physique, he stands at a height of 5 feet 9 inches and possesses exceptional physical attributes that set him apart from his peers.
Yamal is characterized by his explosive speed and impressive strength. This enables him to easily maneuver past opponents and making him a strong contender in one-on-one situations. His rapid acceleration is coupled with precise control, allowing the young player to decelerate when necessary and swiftly regain speed. These attributes poses a considerable challenge for defenders. Operating as a left-footed right-winger, Yamal’s goal is to secure his position on the right side of Barcelona’s 4-3-3 formation.
Why did Xavi value Lamine Yamal at such a young age?
Not only Xavi and Barcelona have recognized Lamine Yamal’s exceptional potential. Xavi himself has foreseen that “Yamal can mark an era.” Xavi’s tactical approach, which involves overloading central areas to secure possession and create one-on-one situations on the flanks, aligns perfectly with Yamal’s strengths.
