The symbolic weight of wearing Barcelona’s iconic No. 10 shirt is immense. Once donned by the likes of Ronaldinho and most famously Lionel Messi, it represents creativity, brilliance, and leadership. Lamine Yamal, at just 18 years old, has now inherited that responsibility—and he has wasted no time making his mark.
In Barcelona’s pre-season clash against Seoul, Yamal scored his first goals as the club’s new number 10, delivering a confident performance in a thrilling 7-3 victory in South Korea. While the result may have been just another friendly win on paper, it marked a pivotal moment in the teenager’s career, and he responded with a message that echoed the magnitude of the moment.
Playing under new head coach Hansi Flick, Barcelona put on an attacking masterclass, but it was the Spaniard’s first-half brace that truly stole the spotlight. His first goal came in the 14th minute, after Robert Lewandowski had opened the scoring. Yamal recovered the ball after a deflection, danced past defenders with composure, and rifled a low shot into the net—his first-ever goal as the Blaugrana’s No. 10.
Just before the half-time whistle, with the match tied at 2-2, the 18-year-old struck again. This time, after a clever backheel feint and a smart through-ball exchange, he finished with finesse, giving Barcelona the lead again. It was a confident, composed finish—one that reflected a player unfazed by the pressure of a legendary shirt.
What did Lamine Yamal say after the game?
After the match, Yamal spoke to the press and revealed what it meant to him to score while wearing the number that defined Messi’s career. His 10-word claim captured both emotion and ambition: “It’s a dream I’ve had since I was a child.”
He elaborated further in his post-match comments, as reported by Marca: “To be able to score with this shirt and this number is very special. I’m very happy with the team’s victory. We are very grateful for the support we receive everywhere and we hope that this season will be very successful and we will win many titles.”
