Lamine Yamal Inherits Messi’s Number 10 at Barcelona, And the Pressure That Comes With It
There’s a new Number 10 at the Camp Nou, and no, it’s not a veteran playmaker or a marquee summer signing. It’s 18-year-old Lamine Yamal, Barcelona’s golden boy, La Masia’s latest prodigy, and now the heir to Lionel Messi’s most sacred shirt.
Yes, that number 10. The one Messi turned into a symbol, the one that’s dripped with magic since Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and even Maradona had a go at it.
Barcelona made the announcement with the caption “Our 10” on social media, alongside a slick video of Yamal looking like he’d been preparing for this moment his whole life. And honestly, maybe he has.
Our president, our No. 10, and the future home. ❤️🔥 pic.twitter.com/yrrmdXKuQ0
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 16, 2025
Yamal has already packed a highlight reel into his teenage years. He made his debut at just 15 wearing the number 41, then moved to 27, and later 19, following Messi’s early number trail almost to the letter. But now, in 2025, he’s taken the final step: the 10 shirt, the spotlight, the expectation.
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A Teenage Star With Silverware and Stats to Back It Up
Let’s not act like this is just hype. Yamal helped Barcelona to a domestic treble last season. Yes, a treble. He’s already notched over 100 appearances and scored 25 goals for the club. And he’s only just turned 18. That’s not just potential, that’s serious output.
He’s not the first to be handed the 10 post-Messi either. That torch originally went to Ansu Fati in 2021, back when Messi left for PSG. But injuries derailed Fati’s rise, and after a disappointing stint, he’s now on loan at Monaco, looking to reboot his career.
With Yamal, though, it feels different. The talent is undeniable, and the confidence? Off the charts.
Off the Pitch: Birthday Bash and Backlash
But it hasn’t all been smooth. Yamal’s 18th birthday celebration, a private party that reportedly featured entertainers with dwarfism, sparked controversy. Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights asked the public prosecutor to investigate after receiving a formal complaint from ADEE, an association that advocates for people with skeletal dysplasias.
Barcelona haven’t commented, and Yamal’s camp is yet to respond publicly. It’s a reminder that stardom comes with scrutiny and Yamal’s every move, on or off the pitch, will be watched from now on.
Big Shirt, Bigger Expectations
Inheriting Messi’s number 10 isn’t just about wearing a shirt. It’s about carrying a legacy. Barcelona fans won’t expect Yamal to be Messi, that’s impossible but they’ll expect moments. Magic. That sense that anything can happen when he’s on the ball.
And based on what we’ve seen so far, he might just deliver.
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