Lamine Yamal has officially been handed Barcelona’s iconic No.10 shirt, a jersey worn for over a decade by club legend Lionel Messi.
The milestone comes just days after Yamal celebrated his 18th birthday, and he will take over the shirt number from Ansu Fati, who recently joined Monaco on a season-long loan.
The announcement coincided with a private event honouring Yamal’s new long-term deal with the club. His contract, signed last month, will keep him at the Camp Nou until 2031.
“When I was a child, my dream was to debut for Barca, to grow up and play with the No.10,” Yamal said at the ceremony.
“Every kid born in Barcelona dreams of that. Messi has made his way and I’m going to make mine.”
Yamal becomes the latest in a long line of Barca greats to don the famous number, following in the footsteps of Messi, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Romario, and Diego Maradona.
Messi wore the shirt from 2008 until his departure in 2021, winning ten LaLiga titles and four Champions League trophies while becoming the club’s all-time top scorer.
Lamine Yamal takes Barcelona’s iconic No. 10 shirt 🔵🔴 pic.twitter.com/JQstB5Lpxh
— B/R Football (@brfootball) July 16, 2025
Despite his age, Yamal has already racked up 106 senior appearances and scored 25 goals for Barcelona. He played a central role in helping Spain lift the European Championship last summer and has established himself as one of Europe’s most exciting young prospects.
“I’m a bit indifferent to both criticism and praise, if it doesn’t come from my family or friends,” Yamal added. “Right now, I’m very focused on football. Ultimately, I work for Barca and I play for Barca, but when I’m away from Ciudad Deportiva, I enjoy my life, and that’s it.”
Yamal had hinted at the number change in recent weeks, sharing photos of former No.10 legends Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Messi on social media.
While the shirt number news was met with celebration, Yamal also faces scrutiny off the field. Reports emerged this week of an investigation launched by the Spanish government into potential disability law violations.
The inquiry surrounds claims that individuals with dwarfism were hired as entertainers at his birthday celebration.
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2025-07-16 21:30:12
