Lamine Yamal set to be given new Barcelona squad number this season that Lionel Messi once wore

If you weren’t familiar with Lamine Yamal before this summer, chances are you’ve heard of him now.

This 17-year-old prodigy made a remarkable impression at Euro 2024 while playing for Spain, where his series of electrifying performances played a pivotal role in helping his country secure its historic fourth tournament victory.

Yamal had only made his senior debut for the Spanish national team in September when he was just 16 years old. During Euro 2024, he managed to score one goal and provide four assists over the course of seven games. His outstanding contributions earned him the prestigious title of UEFA’s Young Player of the Tournament.

One of the most notable moments of his career so far came during the semi-final match against France, where he scored a goal that made him the youngest player ever to score in the history of the European Championship.

Yamal first appeared for Barcelona’s senior team in April 2023, entering the pitch as a substitute during a La Liga match against Real Betis. At just 15 years, nine months, and 16 days old, he became the youngest player to debut in a league game for the club, breaking the previous record set by Ansu Fati by an entire year.

When Yamal made his debut, he wore the number 41 jersey, which symbolized his status as a promising young academy player. In the following season, he wore the number 27, but it’s anticipated that he will change his number again for the 2024-25 season.

According to reports from Jijantes, Barcelona plans to assign the number 19 jersey to the now 16-year-old Yamal—a number that holds significant historical importance at Camp Nou.

Lionel Messi himself wore the number 19 between 2005 and 2008 before switching to the legendary number 10, which he kept until his departure from the club in 2021.

For Yamal, this is a tremendous honor, although it’s not entirely new to him since he wore the same number while representing Spain at Euro 2024.

Given Yamal’s extraordinary abilities, he seems well-suited to inherit Messi’s former number. This connection is even more meaningful when you consider the widely recognized photograph of a 20-year-old Messi holding a young Yamal during a charity calendar photoshoot back in 2007.