Barcelona starlet Lamine Yamal has officially inherited the club’s legendary number 10 shirt, once worn by Lionel Messi. The announcement was made on Wednesday at an event at the Spotify Camp Nou club store.
“Messi made his path, and I will make mine,” said Yamal. “I’ll work hard, give everything, and try to make Barça fans happy—both in the stadium and at home.”
The 18-year-old winger, a La Masia graduate often compared to Messi, enjoyed a breakout season last year, helping Barcelona secure a domestic treble. He signed a new deal in May, extending his contract until 2031 and becoming one of the club’s highest earners.
“I hope to enjoy this season even more than the last and make my dreams come true,” he said. “I want to win the Champions League with Barça—and the World Cup with Spain.”
Yamal made his senior debut in 2023 at just 15, wearing the number 41 shirt. He later switched to number 27, and last season wore 19—another number once used by Messi from 2005 to 2008.
“Barça is my life. I’ve been here since I was seven,” Yamal added. “For all of us from La Masia, the dream is to reach the first team. I’m doing it—and I have to keep working.”
The number 10 jersey has a storied history at Barcelona, worn by legends including Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo. It was last assigned to Ansu Fati, who took it after Messi’s 2021 departure but struggled with injuries. Fati joined AS Monaco on loan earlier this month.
“Messi, Maradona, Ronaldinho—three legends of football and of this club,” Yamal said. “I’m grateful for what they gave Barça, and I’ll try to continue that legacy.”
Off the pitch, Yamal recently faced controversy over his 18th birthday celebration, which featured entertainers with dwarfism. Following a complaint by the Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias (ADEE), Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights asked prosecutors to investigate.
“In the end, I play for Barça, I work for Barça,” Yamal responded. “But outside the club, I enjoy my life—and that’s all.”
AFP
