FC Barcelona continue to rely on their youngsters to make history and lead the team forward. La Blaugrana have been blessed with some special talents over the decades and that legacy continues even today. Heading into the second half of the season, Barcelona know that their young elite stars can make a lot of difference.
Youngsters like Gavi, Pedri, Ansu Fati, and Alejandro Balde have previously led this very side to great victories. However, perhaps no player has been as influential as Lamine Yamal is this season at the age that he is doing it. In fact, his progression within Barcelona is nothing short of extraordinary.
As highlighted by SPORT, 2024 comes as a great year of promise for the 16-year-old winger. Having now consolidated himself within the first team, he will be counted upon for his services even more next year. Even thus far, his growth and development have progressed at an incredible rate.
Since his debut in April, aged 15, Yamal was already a record-breaker. Becoming the youngest debutant ever from Barcelona to feature in the league, great things were expected of him. In the ongoing season, he is the only player alongside Ilkay Gundogan to have featured in every single official game.
Although, unlike his German teammate, his minutes have been far fewer on average due to being used on several occasions as a substitute. He has accumulated one goal and four assists during these appearances. That singular goal, against Granada, also made him the youngest goalscorer in La Liga history.
While his statistics may not look to be ‘supernatural’ numbers, it is his ability that truly enchants him. As highlighted by the report, he has also been regarded as being the best Under-23 dribbler in Europe. His mesmerizing runs and dizzying technique have helped Barcelona fill a special void.
This void, for Xavi in particular, was a rather hard one to figure out. Left by Ousmane Dembele when he departed for PSG, Barcelona lacked chaos on their wing. The Frenchman’s flashy technique and speed caused defenders a lot of problems, and he was thus one of Xavi’s mainstays.
Yet, nobody could have foreseen that a starlet from the academy would be the one to take over. While looking for alternative wingers elsewhere, Barcelona managed to find their answer from within. His time at Barcelona continues to breed more excitement about his future.
Moreover, the 16-year-old forward has also gone on to make history with Spain. Now their official youngest-ever goalscorer, the youngster’s talent promises great things for both his club and his country.
As for his continuation, he has an extension signed that keeps him at Barcelona until 2026. Moreover, once he turns of legal age, an automatic extension clause will be activated. This clause will extend his contract duration until 2030 while retaining his already absolute €1 billion release clause.
FC Barcelona have no intention of letting go of their star prodigy, and he knows it too. 2024 will bring about a lot of new competitions for Barça to worry about, and Yamal will see them all as yet another opportunity to continue his rise to the top.
