Lamine Yamal has officially been handed Barcelona’s iconic No. 10 jersey, the same number Lionel Messi famously wore during his legendary spell at the club. The announcement came on Wednesday, just three days after Yamal turned 18.
He’ll be wearing the number from next season, taking over from Ansu Fati, who recently joined AS Monaco on a loan deal. Fati had been wearing the No. 10 shirt since 2021, but after struggling with injuries and form, the number will now be passed on to one of the brightest talents in European football.
While the announcement should have been a purely celebratory moment, it comes at a complicated time for the youngster.
Spanish authorities are looking into Yamal’s 18th birthday party. Allegations suggest that people with dwarfism were hired as part of the entertainment, and some believe the event may have crossed ethical or legal lines regarding disability rights.
Despite the attention, neither Yamal nor the club seems deterred. Barcelona announced his contract extension alongside the No. 10 shirt reveal, an agreement that ties him to Barça until 2031.
At the event, which included his family and club officials, there was a visible effort to focus on the football rather than the noise around it.
For many fans, seeing the No. 10 shirt on Yamal’s back will stir memories of Messi, Ronaldinho, and even Maradona. He’s hinted at his admiration for those players before posting photos of them in the shirt on social media. It now seems clear he was preparing for this moment.
Yamal has already racked up over 100 appearances for Barcelona, scoring 25 goals, and his role with the Spanish national team continues to grow. He’s worn several numbers since debuting in 2022—41, 27, then 19 last season. Now, as he steps into the No. 10 shirt, the expectation rises but so does the belief in his potential.
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