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Lamine Yamal breaks several records after Lionel Messi-like goal as Barcelona star lights up Champions League
Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal has etched his name further into the history books of European football during Wednesday’s Champions League semi-final against Inter Milan.
At just 17 years and 291 days old, Yamal became only the second under-18 player in Champions League history to start a semi-final.
The only younger player to achieve this feat was Julian Draxler, who started for Schalke 04 at Old Trafford in May 2011 aged 17 years and 226 days.
The Spanish international took his customary position on the right flank for the crucial first-leg clash in Catalunya.
Lamine Yamal was sensational against Inter Milan on Wednesday
Reuters
The match also marked a significant personal milestone for Yamal, who made his 100th appearance for Barcelona.
In doing so, he broke Gavi’s record to become the youngest player to reach a century of games for the Catalan giants.
Yamal achieved this remarkable feat at 17 years and 291 days, becoming the first player to reach 100 Barcelona appearances before turning 19.
Gavi had previously held the record, reaching the milestone at 19 years and 29 days, with Bojan Krkic the only other player to feature 100 times as a teenager.
Yamal marked his historic appearance with a moment of brilliance against Inter Milan.
With Barcelona trailing 2-0 in the first leg, the teenage sensation produced a stunning goal to bring his side back into the contest.
The 17-year-old collected the ball on the right, danced through Inter defenders and unleashed a Messi-like left-footed finish into the far corner from an improbable angle.
This spectacular strike made him the youngest player ever to score at the Champions League semi-final stage.
He nearly added an equaliser shortly after, hitting the crossbar with another sensational effort.
Yamal’s rapid rise stands in stark contrast to even Barcelona’s greatest legend, Lionel Messi.
Lamine Yamal got Barcelona back in the match with a sensational goal
Reuters
At the same age, Messi had made just seven first-team appearances for Barcelona.
Only two of those came as part of the starting line-up.
Messi would eventually reach 100 appearances for the club aged 20 years and 248 days, making him the sixth youngest player to achieve this milestone.
Pedri and Ansu Fati also reached their century at a younger age than the Argentine icon.
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There are echoes of Lionel Messi with Lamine Yamal
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Yamal’s landmark appearance comes almost exactly two years after his senior debut for Barcelona.
He became the youngest Barcelona and La Liga debutant on April 29, 2023, aged just 15 years and 290 days.
Since then, the prodigy has won La Liga last season and lifted the Spanish Super Cup earlier this term.
He has contributed 14 goals and 24 assists across all competitions during the current campaign.
Yamal remains on course to become the youngest ever treble winner, with Barcelona leading La Liga and still in Champions League contention.