A young player bursting through and showing they have what it takes is one of the best elements of football and Barcelona are one club that provides more starlets than most.
Lamine Yamal is the latest young ace to come out of La Masia, making his La Liga debut while still only 15 years of age before turning out for his Spain bow in 2023.
The majority of headlines about Yamal centre around the age-based records he has smashed, given he only turned 16 in July 2023. With a fair chunk of his teens still to go, his incredible talent is difficult to comprehend for those in their 20s and 30s who still think they have a chance of making it.
Here is a collection of the records Yamal has already broken during his career and other feats he almost certainly has his eye on.
Lamine Yamal's broken records
Youngest Barcelona player ever
This all began during the 2022/23 season in which Barcelona won La Liga, wrestling the title back from Real Madrid. Yamal was introduced from the bench against Real Betis in a 4-0 win on 29 April 2023, when he was 15 years, nine months and 16 days old.
Youngest Barcelona starter ever
Naturally, the next step was to become Barcelona's youngest starter. That happened on 20 August 2023 in a 2-0 win over Cadiz in La Liga, with Yamal aged 16 years and 38 days old. He received a standing ovation from the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys crowd, where Barcelona are playing while Camp Nou is renovated.
Youngest player to get an assist in La Liga
His next start came on 28 August 2023 against Villarreal. This was a 4-3 win in which he became the youngest player ever to supply an assist in a La Liga game at 16 years and 45 days old. He also received the player of the match award for contributing to goals from Gavi and Robert Lewandowski.
Youngest player in a Champions League starting XI
Yamal is not the youngest ever player in Champions League history as that record belongs to Borussia Dortmund's Youssoufa Moukoko. However, Yamal is the second youngest and then became the youngest-ever UCL starter at 16 years and 83 days old against Porto on 4 October 2023.
Youngest Barcelona goalscorer ever
Yamal had become an important player for Barcelona at this stage and his first goal finally came in the 2-2 draw away at Granada on 8 October 2023. He became Barcelona's youngest-ever goalscorer at 16 years and 87 days.
Youngest La Liga goalscorer ever
That same goal against Granada made him the youngest ever La Liga goalscorer at 16 years and 87 days, records that were previously held by Gavi and Fabrice Olinga respectively.
Youngest player for Spain
Moving onto Yamal's international exploits, he made his first appearance for Spain on 8 September 2023 under coach Luis de la Fuente. This was in a European Championship qualification match and at 16 years and 57 days he became Spain's youngest ever player, another record Gavi previously held.
Youngest goalscorer for Spain
In that same game against Georgia, he bagged a debut goal which made him Spain's youngest ever goalscorer, again nicking a feat previously held by Gavi. Gavi's age on debut was 17 years and 62 days and his goal came at 17 years and 304 days, so Yamal comfortably beat his club teammate.
Youngest goalscorer in a European Championship qualification match
Securing three records in a single match as well as becoming Spain's youngest player and goalscorer, Yamal became the youngest scorer in a European Championship qualification match. Gareth Bale was the previous holder of this record, scoring when he was 17 years and 83 days old.
Future records Lamine Yamal could break
Youngest Champions League goalscorer ever
Yamal will be looking to grab a goal in the 2023/24 Champions League group stage given there are four games left and he was given a start in the second game against Porto.
Brighton's Ansu Fati, currently on loan from Barca, is the current holder after scoring away at Inter in 2019. He was 17 years and 40 days old, so Yamal has the whole season to get that one done.
Youngest player at a European Championship
With Yamal already scoring in European Championship qualification and Spain expected to qualify - even if Scotland are flying at the top of their group - let's assume Yamal will be a part of proceedings in Germany at Euro 2024 as long as he is fit.
The youngest player to ever appear at a Euros is Poland's Kacper Kozlowski. He was 17 years and 246 days old when he came on against Spain at Euro 2020. Jude Bellingham had secured the record six days before, but then Kozlowski upstaged the Real Madrid star.
Given Yamal won't turn 17 years old until the day before the final in Berlin on 14 July, he is looking very likely to take this record away from Kozlowski.
Youngest scorer at a European Championship
In terms of days, Yamal has even longer to become the youngest goalscorer at a European Championship. Regardless, he basically has one tournament to achieve this and the record above given there is a four-year gap until the next edition.
The youngest goalscorer at a Euros is Swiss midfielder Johan Vonlanthen. He was 18 years and 141 days old when he scored at Euro 2004 against France. Funnily enough, Wayne Rooney had claimed this record on the day Vonlanthen made his Switzerland debut in the same tournament.
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This article was originally published on 90min as Every record broken by Lamine Yamal & future accomplishments he could set.