Young prodigy Lamine Yamal set to inherit Barça's iconic no. 10
According to the Catalan daily "Sport," Lamine Yamal is poised to take over the number 10 shirt at FC Barcelona. The only hurdle for the young Spaniard is Ansu Fati, who is contemplating leaving the team at the end of the season.
Lamine Yamal made a remarkable entry into the senior team at FC Barcelona. At just 17, he has already become one of the club's most vital players, alongside stars such as Robert Lewandowski and Wojciech Szczęsny. Comparisons to Lionel Messi, who achieved his greatest club success at FC Barcelona, are inevitable for Lamine Yamal.
For 13 years, from 2008 to 2021, Lionel Messi played with the number 10 shirt at FC Barcelona. Previously, the Argentinian wore numbers 30 and 19, but it was the number 10 that became synonymous with Lionel Messi.
After Messi's departure from FC Barcelona to Paris Saint-Germain, many thought the club should retire his number. However, this was not possible, as clubs in Spain must maintain numbers from 1 to 25. Discontinuing the number 10 would mean removing a player from the roster.
Thus, the number 10 remained in use, currently worn by Ansu Fati. Fati has not reached the heights of Lionel Messi, and he will probably leave the club in the summer transfer window.
According to "Sport," the next wearer of the number 10 shirt at FC Barcelona will be Lamine Yamal. This will be a significant honour for the teenager, who just two years ago was mostly known to followers of the club's youth teams, known as the Blaugrana.
The number 10 has always been a "heavy number" at FC Barcelona and will remain so for decades. Wearing the same shirt as Lionel Messi sets a high standard, even if the significance is primarily symbolic.
Lamine Yamal currently wears the number 19 for both FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team.
