Lamine Yamal has addressed the “pressure” of potentially inheriting Lionel Messi’s iconic No.10 shirt at Barcelona.
For now, the teenage wonderkid is starring with 19 on his back. In many ways he has made that number his own after becoming a global superstar at just 17 years of age. There is already talk of him challenging for the Ballon d’Or in 2025.
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There is, however, something special about donning No.10 in Catalunya. Argentine icon Messi once wore that jersey with distinction, becoming a multiple Golden Ball winner and all-time great during his record-shattering spell at Camp Nou.
It has been suggested that Yamal – who is considered to be the natural heir to his fellow La Masia graduate – could be handed a historic shirt this summer as Ansu Fati, who has filled that jersey since Messi departed in 2021, moves on.
Yamal is not paying too much attention to that debate, having already had to contend with comparisons to Messi since bursting onto the senior scene at 15, and told El Partidazo of becoming Barca’s new No.10: “At the moment, Ansu has it. I wear number 19 and I really like it; it’s brought me luck. Is there more pressure to play with number 10? When I go to shoot at goal, I’m not going to think about what number I’m wearing.”
Yamal made his bow for Barca wearing No.41. He swapped to 27 in the 2023-24 campaign, before eventually settling on 19 last summer. A third squad number change in as many years could be on the cards for a youngster that is poised to sign a lucrative new contract when turning 18 in July.