Spain Striker Lamine Yamal reached 100 professional matches much faster than three superstars of previous generations: Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappe. With Barca, beating Rayo 1-0 in round 24 of La Liga on the evening of February 17 was Lamine Yamal’s 100th professional match. “Number 19” reached this milestone at the age of 17 years and 219 days, surpassing contemporary superstars. Messi needed 20 years and 105 days, Ronaldo 19 years and 254 days, and Mbappe 19 years and 56 days.

In 100 games played, Yamal scored 21 goals and assisted 28 times, both records in the Spanish top-flight football environment. Specifically, he played 83 games, scored 18 goals, assisted 20 times for Barca and 17 games, scored three goals, assisted eight times for the Spanish national team.

Euro 2024 is the tournament that will propel Yamal to stardom. Here, the striker scored one goal and assisted four times in seven games, contributing greatly to Spain’s championship. According to Marca, age is not an issue for Yamal, as he has the lightning speed of a young player and the calmness in decision-making of an experienced player.

Adrien Rabiot, the French international who questioned Yamal before the Euro semi-final, was later the witness of his junior’s goal. This masterpiece also helped “number 19” become the youngest scorer in the history of the tournament and won the award for Best Goal.

In addition to the championship with Spain, Yamal also won the Best Young Player of the Euro, “Golden Boy”, Kopa Trophy and was in the Top 8 of the Golden Ball 2024. The teenage striker also won La Liga 2022-2023 and the Spanish Super Cup 2024-2025 with Barca. Superstars and top coaches such as Ronaldo, Messi, Xavi, Hansi Flick, Luis De La Fuente… all consider Yamal a talent to dominate football in the future.

“The future is uncertain, but it’s hard to make any predictions wrong,” Marca said. “Yamal’s talent is proven not only by 100 matches and statistics, but also by the beautiful football he plays.”

Yamal started playing for Barca at the end of the 2022-2023 season, at the age of 15 years, 9 months and 16 days. The striker born in 2007 holds dozens of records for the youngest player to start, score, and assist for Barca in La Liga, Champions League, Copa del Rey, Spanish Super Cup and El Clasico.

Yamal came from the La Masia academy, which produced Messi, Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and many other stars.