In the action-packed 3-3 draw between Barcelona and Inter in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semifinals, Lamine Yamal delivered another memorable performance, proving he`s not just a promising future talent but already one of the game`s elite players.
Yamal played a crucial role in Barcelona`s attacking efforts, contributing four shots and creating two chances as his team scored three goals against Inter. The 17-year-old had a personal highlight moment, netting a goal in the 24th minute with a moment of individual brilliance that helped spark Barcelona`s recovery after falling behind 2-0. This latest showing left many in awe, including football icon Thierry Henry.
“What I saw tonight from Lamine Yamal… it`s simply not typical for someone aged 17,” Henry commented on the UEFA Champions League Today post-match show. “I`m not solely talking about his skills with the ball; his awareness, composure, vision, and even his defensive effort and pressing are remarkable. It`s genuinely unusual. We`ve discussed the fact he`s already played 100 senior games at this age. It feels almost absurd. I`m struggling to fully grasp what I`m witnessing, but he played with intense determination, like a seasoned professional, even though technically he isn`t one yet. It`s just extraordinary.”
Statistics further support Henry`s view that Yamal operates on a different plane compared to other players his age. In his first 100 club appearances, he has accumulated 50 goal contributions (22 goals and 28 assists). This tally is close to Lionel Messi`s record of 56 (41 goals, 15 assists) at the same career milestone and significantly surpasses Cristiano Ronaldo`s 27 (13 goals, 14 assists). Importantly, both Ronaldo and Messi were considerably older than Yamal when they reached the 100-game mark. For context, Messi had only played seven senior matches for Barcelona by the time he was Yamal`s current age.
His impressive record is complemented by his entertaining style of play, which he considers a defining characteristic of his game.
“I enjoy playing football in a manner that brings enjoyment to others,” Yamal stated in an interview featured on the UEFA Champions League Today show.
Yamal`s collection of trophies is also remarkable for someone so young – he was a key figure in Spain`s European Championship victory last year and again played a vital role in Barcelona securing the Copa del Rey recently. If Barcelona manage to achieve a treble this season – a strong possibility given their lead in La Liga and continued participation in the Champions League – he would be a highly deserving recipient of further accolades. He is already building a compelling case to be considered among the world`s best players, potentially stepping into the void left by Messi and Ronaldo as their legendary careers near conclusion.
“One aspect of football that consistently fascinates me is the belief that no one can ever surpass players like Messi or Ronaldo,” Henry reflected. “But then, someone like Yamal emerges, and alongside him, you have a new talent in Argentina, Franco Mastantuono at River Plate, who already decided a derby game against Boca Juniors with a free kick. That`s the beauty of football. There will soon be another player, perhaps in just two or three years, who isn`t yet on our radar, but whom we`ll be discussing. It`s astonishing to think a player is achieving this at 17 years old. I believe I made my senior debut around 17 myself. What he`s accomplishing is just phenomenal, genuinely not normal. But it`s wonderful to see a new talent arriving, someone who looks capable of dominating the sport. I truly wish him success, but let`s avoid putting immense pressure on him by immediately crowning him.”
Jersey Swap Request
Concluding the interview segment, Thierry Henry mentioned he would be attending El Clasico in Barcelona in May and expressed his hope to acquire Yamal`s jersey for his son. Yamal was agreeable, but he requested that Henry bring him one of his old jerseys in return, mentioning that a Barcelona or Arsenal shirt would be equally appreciated.
