Lamine Yamal, who has been making the exceptional seem routine since 2007, once again surpassed expectations for a 17-year-old football player. In a crucial Champions League knockout match, he delivered two moments of brilliance in a single half, leaving a significant mark on the competition this season.
First, his incredible assist. Yamal skillfully maneuvered past Florentino and caused Nicolas Otamendi to collide with Robert Lewandowski, creating space to aim for the far corner of the net. Whether he intended to set up a teammate or go for goal remains uncertain. However, the result was a perfectly placed pass to Raphinha, who scored the opening goal.
For almost any other player, this pass might be considered a lucky miskick. Yet, Yamal’s exceptional decision-making and technical skills at such a young age make it plausible that it was a deliberate and brilliant play.
His goal left no room for doubt. It restored Barcelona’s two-goal advantage against Benfica after Otamendi’s earlier goal from a corner. Yamal received the ball near the right sideline, evaded a defender, and despite being slightly off-balance near the edge of the box, he managed an extraordinary shot.
With minimal back-lift, Yamal struck the ball with incredible bend, leaving Benfica’s goalkeeper Anatolii Trubin with no chance. Even for a player known for scoring spectacular goals, this one might be the best yet.
Barcelona extended their lead further before halftime with another goal from Raphinha. While Raphinha could have scored twice, the spotlight was firmly on Yamal. This match, his first Champions League knockout game with a goal, could be seen as his breakthrough moment. However, considering his achievements, especially overtaking Pele’s record as the youngest scorer at a major tournament during Euro 2024, his true breakthrough may have already occurred.
At 17 years and 241 days old, Yamal became the youngest player to both score and assist in a Champions League match, surpassing Breel Embolo’s previous record. Lionel Messi, who showed similar promise at a young age, achieved this feat at 18 years and 131 days.
Barcelona has now qualified for the Champions League quarterfinals. This upcoming major event could be another opportunity for the prodigious teenager to showcase his talent, potentially against Inter’s strong defense.
If Barcelona faces Inter, it would be unwise to bet against Yamal making a significant impact. His current trajectory suggests it’s only a matter of time before he dominates another top-tier defense. Perhaps soon, the description of him as the “best young player in the world” will simply become “the best player in the world.”
