Lamine Yamal: Barcelona's New No. 10 and the Making of a Football Icon at Just 18
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Lamine Yamal: Barcelona's New No. 10 and the Making of a Football Icon at Just 18
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Lamine Yamal has catapulted himself into football’s global spotlight over the past week with an electric combination of career milestones, public confidence, and headline-making moments. On July 16, FC Barcelona officially announced that Yamal, freshly turned 18, will be donning the club’s iconic number 10 shirt for the 2025–26 season—the fabled number worn by legends like Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona, and, of course, Lionel Messi. The move comes hand in hand with a contract extension that binds him to Barça until 2031. Multiple outlets including CBS Sports and FC Barcelona confirm the deal is reportedly worth a base salary of 15 million euros per season, with performance-based bonuses potentially bringing it up to 20 million. Accepting the pressure, Yamal publicly declared to Barça TV he feels “this is the beginning of a journey that I hope will be very long and full of victories,” promising supporters he’ll “give everything to make the fans happy” for what he calls his “lifetime club and the best in the world.”
The marketing machine wasted no time. World Soccer Talk reports that Yamal’s new No. 10 jersey generated an instant windfall, driving a massive revenue surge for Barcelona within just 24 hours of release—the first hint he’s not just football’s next big star, but potentially a commercial juggernaut. According to Football Espana, the club expects an immediate 10 million euro income boost directly tied to his kit sales, fusing sporting and financial hopes onto the shoulders of the young phenom.
Yamal’s sporting résumé already reads like one from a seasoned veteran. Since his debut in April 2023, he’s notched up 115 Barcelona appearances, with 25 goals and 34 assists, collecting two La Ligas, one Copa del Rey, one Spanish Super Cup, and—crucially—helping Spain win UEFA Euro 2024 before he was even 18. Barcelona’s official statement highlights that he’s been pivotal under both Xavi and Hansi Flick, now entering the new season determined to lead a defense of the domestic treble and poised for future Ballon d’Or contention.
However, Yamal has also attracted controversy. The Times Union and other media reported backlash after claims surfaced that entertainers with dwarfism were hired for his private birthday party. In the days after, Yamal broke his silence, addressing the scandal and expressing regret, though details remain patchy and unconfirmed. The story has generated heavy social media traffic, fueling debate but, so far, hasn’t derailed his momentum with club or sponsor.
As the world watches, all eyes are now on Barcelona’s preseason and Yamal’s first official match sporting the No. 10—one of world football’s most scrutinized shirts—while media outlets and fans alike speculate whether the teenager will make good not just on his club’s massive bet, but on another new era at Camp Nou.
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