Barcelona’s rising star Lamine Yamal has been handed the club’s legendary number 10 shirt, once worn by Lionel Messi. The 18-year-old winger, long regarded as one of the brightest talents from La Masia, was unveiled as the new number 10 on Wednesday in a club video titled, “Our 10.”
“Messi made his path and I will make mine,” Yamal said during an event at the club shop at Spotify Camp Nou. “I will work as hard as I can, give everything, and try to make Barca fans happy — both those in the stadium and watching from home.”
Yamal enjoyed a breakout season last year, helping Barcelona to a domestic treble. He signed a new deal with the club in May, tying him to the Catalans until 2031 and becoming one of their highest-paid players.
“I hope to enjoy myself more than last year and make my dreams come true,” he added. “I want to win the Champions League with Barcelona and the World Cup with Spain.”
Yamal has already made over 100 appearances for Barça since debuting in 2023 at age 15, then wearing the number 41. He scored 25 goals during that span and wore number 27 last season before switching to 19 — the same number Messi wore between 2005 and 2008.
“Barça is my life,” Yamal said. “I’ve been here since I was seven. For every kid in La Masia, the dream is to make it to the first team — I’m doing it, and I have to keep working.”
The number 10 shirt, last worn by Ansu Fati following Messi’s 2021 departure, has also been donned by club legends like Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo. Fati, hampered by injuries, recently joined Monaco on loan.
“Messi, Maradona, Ronaldinho — they are three legends of football, and of this club,” said Yamal. “I’m grateful for what they gave to Barça, and I’ll try to continue that legacy.”
