Lamine Yamal delivered another remarkable performance during Barcelona`s 3-3 Champions League draw against Inter. His display wasn`t just a glimpse of future potential; it showcased him as a current top talent in the game, producing numerous standout moments in the match.
Yamal was central to Barcelona`s attack, contributing four shots and creating two chances. The 17-year-old highlighted his brilliance by scoring in the 24th minute with a moment of individual skill, initiating Barcelona`s comeback from a two-goal deficit. This performance, like others before it, left many amazed, including football icon Thierry Henry.
“What I witnessed tonight from Lamine Yamal… it`s not normal to be like that at 17,” Henry commented during the post-match show. “I`m not talking about what he does when he`s on the ball, his awareness, how calm he is, how he sees the game, the way he will defend, put pressure. It`s just not normal. We talked about the 100 games that he already has at that age. It`s just stupid, really. I don`t even know what I`m watching, what I`m witnessing, but he played like a man possessed, and when I say `a man,` he`s not even a man yet, technically. It`s just not normal.”
Statistics support Henry`s view that Yamal is performing at a level beyond typical players his age. In his first 100 club games, Yamal has contributed 50 goals and assists (22 goals, 28 assists). This tally is not far off Lionel Messi`s 56 (41 goals, 15 assists) at the same milestone and significantly more than Cristiano Ronaldo`s 27 (13 goals, 14 assists). Notably, both Messi and Ronaldo reached 100 games at a much older age than Yamal, and Messi had played only seven Barcelona games by Yamal`s current age.
Beyond his impressive stats and record-breaking form, Yamal is known for his entertaining skills, which he happily considers a trademark of his style of play.
“I like playing in a way that other people enjoy,” Yamal said in an interview on the UEFA Champions League Today post-match show.
Yamal also boasts an impressive trophy record for his age, having played crucial roles in Spain`s win at last year`s Euros and Barcelona`s recent Copa del Rey victory. With Barcelona still competing for the treble (leading La Liga and in the Champions League), he stands to add more accolades. He`s already asserting himself as one of the top players in the game, potentially stepping into the space previously occupied by Messi and Ronaldo as their legendary careers wind down.
Henry added: “One thing that always amazes me in football is you always think there`s no way someone will be better [than Messi or Ronaldo]… And then Yamal arrives… It`s crazy to think a guy is 17 years old doing this. I think I made my debut at 17. It`s just crazy what he`s doing. It`s just not normal… It`s great to see a new guy coming, a new guy on the block that looks like he might be dominating, and I wish that for him. Let`s not put him under pressure and say he should be on the throne or whatever.”
Jersey Swap?
At the conclusion of the interview, Henry mentioned he`d be in Barcelona for El Clasico in May and hoped to get Yamal`s jersey for his son. Yamal readily agreed, asking in return for one of Henry`s jerseys, specifying that a Barcelona or Arsenal one would be perfect.
Adrian Whitmore 
Benedict Kingsley