LALIGA
The incredible challenge that awaits Lamine Yamal at Barcelona
After his dazzling displays caught the world’s imagination at Euro 24, the pressure is on the teenager to follow the likes of Iniesta and Puyol.
The most challenging part is not getting there, but staying there. That must be Lamine Yamal’s goal after a dazzling and rapid rise to the elite of world football. In an interview with AS, Julen Guerrero recommended “a lot of calm and caution” and advised having “a lot of patience” to continue managing the young star’s career successfully. “Let’s see Lamine’s second season. It’s very important,” he said.
Second season challenge for Yamal
A good first step has been the decision not to juggle both the European Championship and the Olympic Games, as the player needs physical and mental rest after everything he has experienced this season. During the course, Xavi managed him perfectly, regulating his minutes until he became indispensable to the team.
The future Barça must be built around the footballing talent of Lamine. Despite only recently turning 17 years old – the day before the Euro 24 triumph over England – there is no doubt that the main challenge for new boss Hansi Flick will be to create the best environment for the Rocafonda native to showcase his best qualities. This, naturally, will add pressure, compounded by the team’s need for success after a trophy-less year. All eyes will be on him, especially as eternal rivals Real Madrid bolster their galáctico ranks.
Following Xavi and Iniesta
To stay on track, Yamal will need to look at what other great legends from Barcelona’s academy have done in the past. However, it must be noted that none of those we’ll mention had such a significant role in the team during their second season in the first team. This is something Yamal will have to handle.
For instance, his former coach, Xavi Hernández. After becoming Van Gaal’s saviour in his first year, where he balanced time between the first team and the reserves, the 1999-2000 season was his breakthrough in the first team. He benefited from Pep Guardiola’s injury, though it’s unfortunate that was the reason. In that second season, he played in 24 LaLiga matches, four Copa del Rey matches, and 10 Champions League games, starting to secure a spot in the lineup that he wouldn’t relinquish until his final year at the club in 2015.
In his second year with the first team, Andrés Iniesta had not yet secured a place in the starting eleven. He participated in 37 LaLiga matches, more than anyone else in the squad alongside Eto’o. He played a crucial role in winning the title, and his immense talent was already evident. However, according to Rijkaard, it wasn’t enough to consider him indispensable.
Puyol, Busquets, Piqué, Fati, Gavi
In contrast, Carles Puyol was indispensable in his second year with the first team, in the 2001-2002 season, playing almost every match with 35 LaLiga appearances and 14 in the Champions League. The great captain became a cornerstone in the following years, only slowed down by injuries. In his second season at the elite level, 1992/93, Guardiola was already steering Cruyff’s Dream Team, playing in 28 LaLiga matches, three Copa del Rey games, the Intercontinental Cup final, and both Super Cups. He also played four matches in the Champions League, continuing to win titles like LaLiga and the two Super Cups.
One of his successors as a midfielder, Sergio Busquets, had a spectacular debut season and maintained his excellent form in his second year (2009/2010) under Guardiola. A regular starter, he played in 33 LaLiga matches and won four titles. That same year, Gerard Piqué also excelled, playing in 32 matches.
Another early, and more recent talent like Lamine was Ansu Fati. The current number 10 of Barcelona broke into the elite aged 16. His second year with the first team was forgettable due to a severe injury against Betis, limiting him to just seven matches and keeping him out for eleven months. Nevertheless, he scored four goals and won LaLiga. Gavi, in his second season with the first team, was already established, playing in 36 LaLiga matches, scoring two goals, and providing four assists, also winning the championship under Xavi’s leadership.
Yamal’s obvious comparison with Messi
Argentine superstar Lionel Messi started his second season fully as a first-team player at 19, during the 2006/2007 campaign. He participated in 26 LaLiga matches but only completed 90 minutes in 14 of them, scoring 14 goals. That season, Barça won the Spanish Super Cup. However, Messi was not yet the team leader on the pitch, with players like Ronaldinho, Eto’o, and Deco, now the technical secretary, ahead of him, along with Ludovic Giuly in the forward line.
Many see Yamal as Messi’s heir at Barcelona, but the difference is that in his early years, the Argentine was surrounded by top-tier players and gradually assumed more responsibilities until his immense quality shone through. A key factor in this progression was Ronaldinho’s departure. Yamal, with the exception of Lewandowski and Gündogan, has already become the main reference point for this Barcelona team under Hansi Flick. Is it too young for such a burden to be placed upon him?