Spaniard cited Ronaldinho as inspiration for his career at Barcelona
Barcelona’s young star Lamine Yamal inherited the Blaugrana’s iconic number 10 shirt on Wednesday (July 16), previously worn by legends such as Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Diego Maradona. “Messi followed his path, I will follow mine.
Now, the number 10 shirt passes from Ansu to Lamine,” Yamal told the press at the official Barcelona store at Camp Nou, where he signed his contract extension until 2031.
The player revealed that he dreams of being like Messi and recalled Brazilians Ronaldinho and Rivaldo: “I would keep everything from each of them and I am grateful for what they gave to the club.” “Our number 10,” Barça wrote on social media, posting a video starring Yamal.
After a season wearing the number 27 shirt, a year ago the young star followed in Messi’s footsteps and began wearing the number 19, which the Argentine had worn between 2005 and 2008. Ansu Fati inherited Messi’s number 10 in 2021, when the star, now at Inter Miami, left Barça and moved to Paris Saint-Germain. Hampered by a series of injuries, Fati failed to reach his potential at the Catalan club and was eventually loaned to Monaco in early July. The 18-year-old striker, often compared to Messi, who also played at La Masia, helped the Catalan club win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup last season. He has set his sights on winning the Champions League. “I didn’t win the Champions League, so my challenge is to win it. And also the World Cup. We have to keep growing because we’re a very young team, but we also have to have fun, because when we all have fun, everyone is happier, we play better, and we win.”
Lamine Yamal at Barcelona
“I hope it’s a very long road full of victories. I hope to enjoy it even more than last year and continue winning titles,” said the Barça star. Regarding the praise, Yamal noted that if it doesn’t come from his family, he doesn’t mind. “Both criticism and praise are indifferent to me if they don’t come from my family. I try to enjoy football every day, show what I’m capable of, and that’s it,” he added.
Yamal has scored 25 goals in his more than 100 appearances for Barça since debuting in 2023, at the age of 15, wearing the number 41. However, since last weekend, Yamal has been embroiled in controversy after celebrating his 18th birthday at a private event attended by entertainers with dwarfism. “I work at Barça, but when I’m away from the training center, I enjoy my life,” he concluded.
The Spanish Ministry of Social Rights has asked the Public Prosecutor’s Office to investigate the party, following a complaint from the Association of People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias (ADEE).
