In the wake of Lionel Messi’s departure from Barcelona in 2021, many wondered if the club would ever find a suitable replacement for the Argentine legend. However, fast forward to 2025, and it appears that the Catalans have unearthed a gem in Lamine Yamal. The 17-year-old winger has been in scintillating form this season, providing 10 assists in just 18 league games.
Yamal’s impressive tally has catapulted him to the top of the assist charts in Europe’s top five leagues, with only Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah boasting more assists (13) this season. The Barcelona youngster is level with Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka, and his statistics are a testament to his rapid growth under the guidance of Hansi Flick.
The German coach’s direct attacking approach has brought the best out of Yamal, who has thrived in the final third. His vision, precision, and technique have made him a nightmare for opposing defenders, and his assist tally is only expected to rise as the season progresses.
What’s more impressive is that Yamal is still only in his second full professional season, and he’s already showing signs of reaching the same heights as some of the world’s top players. In fact, he’s on course to challenge Lionel Messi’s iconic 2019-20 La Liga campaign, where the Argentine legend set the league record with 20 assists in a single season.
With Barcelona already scoring an astonishing 101 goals this campaign, Yamal’s chances of overtaking Salah and etching his name into the history books are increasing by the day. The young Spanish winger’s rise to prominence is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and natural ability, and it will be fascinating to see how he continues to develop in the coming months.
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