Lamine Yamal is gradually making his name in world football history with a series of impressive records at the age of 17. With a long list of outstanding achievements, the Barcelona prodigy is expected to surpass the records previously set by two legends Ronaldo and Messi.
“Teenage” record holder
At the age of 17, Lamine Yamal has done things that even Ronaldo or Messi could not do at this age. According to official statistics from Barcelona’s homepage, the Spanish prodigy has set 25 records for both his club and national team in all competitions. A number beyond the imagination of many football fans around the world.
Yamal has an impressive list of records at the age of 17.
From La Liga to Champions League, from El Clasico to Euro or Nations League, the 17-year-old star continuously breaks milestones that many legends have reached in adulthood.
One of the most memorable milestones was when Yamal became the youngest player to score in La Liga history. On October 8, 2023, in the match between Barcelona and Granada, the jewel of Spanish football scored at the age of 16 years and 87 days, breaking a record that had stood for more than a decade.
In the European arena, Yamal also left an indelible mark. At the age of 16 years and 223 days, he played in a Champions League knockout match, becoming the youngest player ever to play in the knockout stages. Less than two months later, the prodigy continued to write his name in history by becoming the youngest player to play in the quarter-finals of Europe’s most prestigious tournament. In the return match, he also broke the record for the youngest player to play 10 matches in the Champions League.
There was a time when Yamal set records every time he played.
Not only making his mark in Barcelona, Yamal also conquered world football with EURO 2024. At the age of 16 years and 362 days, he scored a super goal against France in the semi-final, becoming the youngest player to ever score at a EURO.
Not stopping there, Yamal was also the youngest player to appear in a final match of this tournament, before winning the championship with Spain. That victory also made him the youngest player in history to win a major title at the team level, breaking the 66-year-old record of the legendary Pele.
Lamine Yamal is not only a promising talent but also one of the brightest gems in world football. At the age of 17, the Barcelona prodigy has achieved things that many players have not achieved in their entire careers. With this progress, no one can predict where this young man’s limit will stop.
“Crossing Mountains” Ronaldo – Messi: The journey is not only about records
Comparing a young talent with legends like Ronaldo or Messi is always a “double-edged sword”. Anyone who has an explosive start is put on the scale with the two greatest names in contemporary football. But to truly reach the top, surpassing their giant shadow, it takes not only records but also proving courage and perseverance throughout the career.
Lamine Yamal has the potential to surpass Ronaldo and Messi’s records
Lamine Yamal is taking his first steps on that path. The milestones that the young Spanish star has achieved for Barcelona and the national team are impressive. But if you only look at the statistics, Yamal still has a long way to go to reach the level of Ronaldo and Messi.
The two living legends of contemporary football are not only goal-scoring machines but also symbols of endurance and maintaining top form for more than a decade. They not only had one or two excellent seasons, but also more than a dozen years of dominating world football.
The biggest difference between Yamal and the two legends is the ability to decide the match. Both Ronaldo and Messi have had moments of “saving” the team in the most difficult moments, from decisive goals in the Champions League final, to super performances in big matches.
Yamal needs to maintain his impressive form over the years to win major trophies.
Although Yamal has set many impressive records as a teenager, he still needs more time to prove his ability to become a mainstay for Barcelona. The striker born in 2007 needs to show his mettle in decisive matches, just like Lionel Messi has done for more than a decade.
Yamal’s biggest challenge is not breaking records but maintaining top form over a long period of time. Many world football prodigies have exploded at a young age, but then faded into oblivion due to injuries, a decline in form or an inability to adapt to the pressure of the top.
Even at Barcelona, fans had high expectations for Bojan Krkic or Ansu Fati, but both of them could not reach the level they were expected to reach. To “overcome the mountain” of Ronaldo – Messi, Yamal needs more than just impressive numbers.
If he can maintain that for many years, not just one season, the 17-year-old boy could absolutely become the next figure to dominate world football. But for now, Yamal’s journey has only just begun, and there are many challenges ahead to conquer.
Waiting for Yamal to win the Ballon d’Or at the age of 18
In 2025, there will be no major tournaments for national teams. This means that the performance of players in club colors will play a decisive role in the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
Mohamed Salah was once considered a leading candidate for the 2025 Ballon d’Or thanks to his impressive form in the Premier League. However, his lackluster performance in the Champions League and Liverpool’s elimination from the tournament have diminished the Egyptian star’s status.
Salah is out of breath in the Golden Ball race
Kylian Mbappe is considered to be Yamal’s main competitor in the race for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. The French striker still has a chance to win a treble of titles with Real Madrid, including La Liga, Champions League and Copa del Rey. Moreover, the influence of this 1998-born star is not only great at Real Madrid but also in contemporary football in general.
Raphinha is becoming a strong candidate for the 2025 Ballon d’Or. In the 2024/25 season, he scored 27 goals and made 19 assists after 41 matches for Barcelona. Notably, the Brazilian star is currently leading the list of Champions League top scorers with 11 goals.
Yamal made a great contribution to help Raphinha achieve explosive form in the 2024/25 season
The emotion that Yamal brought to the world football village was rated higher than that of Raphinha. However, some of the journalists’ votes were influenced by emotions, although they still maintained a certain neutrality.
If Yamal maintains his impressive form until the end of the season and helps Barcelona win a treble or quadruple, it would not be a surprise if he surpasses Raphinha to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or.
The 2025 Ballon d’Or ceremony is likely to be held later this year, when Yamal will be 18 years old. The Barcelona star himself is no stranger to the ceremony, as he was one of the candidates for the Ballon d’Or award in 2024.
Legendary Ronaldo De Lima, also known by his nickname Ronaldo “beo”, won the Ballon d’Or in 1997, thereby becoming the youngest player to win this title (21 years, 3 months, 5 days). If Yamal cannot win the Ballon d’Or this year, he still has 2 more years to complete the goal of breaking Ronaldo “beo”.
However, it is not certain that in the coming seasons, Barcelona will have a sublime season like the current one. Therefore, fans are waiting to see if Yamal will seize the “golden” opportunity to bring back historical glory.
Lamine Yamal’s record achievements
