FC Barcelona officially announced that 18-year-old prodigy Lamine Yamal will don the club’s prestigious No. 10 shirt, previously worn by legends Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Lionel Messi.
The announcement, reported by ESPN and Mundo Deportivo, was made during an event celebrating Yamal’s new contract, signed in May 2025, which extends until June 30, 2031, with a €1 billion release clause.
The No. 10 shirt was last worn by Ansu Fati, who has faced injury challenges and is reportedly on loan at Valencia.
Yamal, speaking at the event alongside his family, expressed gratitude and ambition:
“Messi has made his path, I’m going to make mine, and the number 10 comes from Ansu now. So, I’ll try to make all the culés happy, those who are there and those at home. I hope so [to leave a legacy like Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Messi]. They’re three football legends, three legends of this club. I’d take everything from each of them. I’m grateful for the club’s trust and I’ll try to continue that legacy.”
His comments reflect humility and determination to carve his own path while honoring the shirt’s storied history.
The decision marks a landmark moment for Yamal, who has risen meteorically since his La Masia debut in 2023, becoming La Liga’s youngest scorer at 16 and a key player for Spain’s Euro 2024-winning team. In the 2024-25 season, he has contributed 8 goals and 12 assists in 18 La Liga matches, per Transfermarkt, earning praise from coach Hansi Flick for his “generational talent.” Fans on X have celebrated the move, with @BarcaWorldwide calling it “a new era for the No. 10,” though some express concern about the pressure on the young star.
Barcelona’s trust in Yamal signals their commitment to building around the teenager
