Barcelona’s torch-bearer was Lionel Messi, who was their last champions league champion ten years ago.
When they take on Inter Milan on Wednesday in a semi-final first leg match, the Catalan giants will now rely on Lamine Yamal as their “X-factor.”
Messi scored two incredible goals in the 2015 semi-final first leg against Bayern Munich on the way to the treble, and Yamal, age 17, is still improving his finishing, which could help the team achieve success this year.
The teenager, who is left-footed but has freedom of movement like Messi did for many years, gives Hansi Flick’s brilliant Barca their edge.
In their enthralling Clasico Copa del Rey final victory over Real Madrid on Saturday in Seville, Yamal scored two of Barcelona’s three goals.
On top of his outstanding Euro 2024 displays against champions Spain last summer, he has been showing it all season with 14 goals, 24 assists, and numerous but crucial flashes of invention, genius, and flair.
Yamal is responsible for a large portion of the attention that Flick’s attacking Barca has captured.
It’s unusual to walk for more than a few minutes in Barcelona’s city center without seeing a replica Yamal shirt.
On matchdays, a crowd of No 19 shirts flies up the city’s Montjuic hill’s rolling staircases and escalators leading to the Olympic stadium.
With a variety of different Barcelona shirts from different years and the sky-blue and white stripes of Argentina, it was once Messi’s No 10.
Given that Yamal has risen to fame so quickly, and this is his first season wearing the No 19, the shirts are identical.
Also read: Mohamed Salah Cements’ Place As Liverpool’s Egyptian King.
We have seen a genius, they say.
Yamal could become a winner of the Ballon d’Or if Barcelona wins the Champions League.
When Xavi Hernandez made his La Liga debut as a 15-year-old against Real Betis in April 2023, it was difficult to imagine such a feat.
As tens of thousands of people watched him every step, a little intimidated, Yamal appeared to be right in the middle.
Perhaps this was the only occasion because he has never shown even the slightest sign of daunted ever since.
Ronald Araujo, the captain of Barcelona, said last week, “I’m surprised by how incredible the (young players’) mentality is.”
They appear to be very calm, which surprised me greatly.
Yamal’s mother was more concerned for the child than the youngster.
He continued to find his footing at the club, praising his mother, who is afraid of him when I first start.
Yamal started putting the team’s creative weight at the age of 16 despite the fact that those initial nerves had already dissipated so quickly.
Yamal became a household name with Spain at the Euros in Germany the day before the final while awaiting results from his secondary school exams.
After Yamal scored a stunning goal against France in the semi-finals, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente gushed, “We have seen a genius, the work of a genius.”
He is now crucial for Barcelona, who have always struggled without him this season.
Although Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski are responsible for most of the goals, Yamal’s assistance would be invaluable.
Due to his sharp dribbling, either directly or indirectly, in the build-up, he can do so through his risky in-swinging crosses.
“Lamine Yamal… he’s like Messi,” he says. Does he make me laugh? No. Former Barcelona coach Ernesto Valverde earlier this year, “Everyone knows how good he is, he can dribble past anyone.”
Yamal has always been wary of the parallels, as they may seem, and was remarkably photographed as a baby in 2007 as being bathed by the then 20-year-old Messi for a charity calendar.
In February, Messi stated that being compared to him would mean he was acting morally, but he made an effort to be himself.
These comparisons will only increase if Yamal can bring Barcelona back to the Champions League final.
