Lamine Yamal has been one of the most outstanding young footballers in the world over the past year, earning recognition for his brilliant performances with FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. At just 17 years old, the teenager’s exceptional talents have already won him the prestigious Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy Award for 2024. His heroics with Barcelona, especially in securing the UEFA Euro 2024 title with Spain, have made him a household name. His influence on Barça has been undeniable, as the team struggled for wins in La Liga during his injury-enforced absence. However, upon his return to the starting lineup, Yamal demonstrated his importance to the team, leading them to an emphatic victory against RCD Mallorca.
In that game, Lamine Yamal produced a sensational performance. He was directly involved in two crucial goals: first, by winning a penalty in the second half, which allowed Barcelona to go 2-1 up, and later by assisting Raphinha with a brilliant travel pass, which led to Barcelona’s third goal. Despite his standout performance, former football agent and pundit Josep Maria Minguella criticized Yamal for his lack of goals, stating that the young talent needs to score more often to fulfill his potential. Minguella expressed his belief that “Lamine lacks something… he doesn’t have a goal, he doesn’t have the goals he could have,” pointing out that other players, like Raphinha, have scored more. Minguella further emphasized that an attacker needs to be a consistent goal scorer, referencing former player Arjen Robben, who was known for scoring prolifically in a similar position.
While it’s true that Yamal’s goal-scoring record this season stands at six goals from 18 games across all competitions, it is important to remember that he is still just 17 years old. Despite some missed chances, such as those in the Mallorca game, Yamal’s future remains bright. With more experience and exposure to high-level football, it is likely that the La Masia wonderkid will continue to develop and refine his game, adding goals to his impressive skill set.
