Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s prodigious winger, has officially been handed the club’s iconic number 10 jersey, once famously worn by Lionel Messi. The 18-year-old received the shirt during a ceremony at the Spotify Camp Nou store on Wednesday, ushering in a new era for the Spanish giants.
“Messi made his path and I will make mine,” Yamal told reporters. “I will work as hard as I can, give everything and try to make Barca fans happy — both those in the stadium and at home.”
A product of La Masia, Barcelona’s prestigious youth academy, Yamal has quickly risen through the ranks, making his senior debut in 2023 at the age of 15. He has since scored 25 goals in over 100 appearances, playing a pivotal role in the club’s domestic treble-winning campaign last season.
In May, he committed his long-term future to the Catalan club by signing a new contract until 2031, positioning himself among the team’s highest earners. Yamal previously wore shirt numbers 41, 27, and 19 — the latter also once worn by Messi — before being entrusted with the revered number 10.
“Barca is my life. I’ve been here since I was seven,” said Yamal. “For all kids from La Masia, their dream is to make it to the first team, and I’m doing it. I have to keep working.”
The number 10 shirt holds legendary status at Barcelona, having been worn by football greats such as Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo. Ansu Fati, who took over the jersey following Messi’s 2021 departure to PSG, was recently loaned to Monaco after a series of injuries.
“They [Messi, Maradona, Ronaldinho] are three legends of football, three legends of this club,” Yamal said. “I am grateful for what they gave the club and I will try to continue this legacy.”
Looking ahead, Yamal expressed lofty ambitions: “I hope to enjoy myself more than last year and make my dreams come true. I want to win the Champions League with Barca and the World Cup with Spain.”
However, the teenager has recently faced controversy off the pitch. His 18th birthday celebration reportedly featured entertainers with dwarfism, prompting a complaint from the Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias (ADEE). Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights has called for an investigation into the incident.
Responding to the backlash, Yamal stated, “In the end, I work for Barca, I play for Barca, but when I’m away from the club, I enjoy my life, and that’s all.”