Barcelona's 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal has officially inherited the club's legendary number 10 jersey, once worn by eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi, following a contract extension announced Wednesday. The Catalan club celebrated the milestone with a social media post declaring "Our 10" alongside a video montage of Yamal's career highlights.
Yamal, who debuted for Barça at just 15 wearing number 41, has rapidly ascended through the ranks since his 2023 first-team appearance. The La Masia graduate contributed significantly to last season's domestic treble campaign while wearing number 19 – the same shirt Messi donned during his early Barcelona years.
The number 10 jersey carries immense symbolic weight at Camp Nou, having been worn by football icons including Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo. Previous successor Ansu Fati struggled with injuries after inheriting the number in 2021, eventually departing for Monaco this summer on loan.
While Yamal's on-field potential excites fans worldwide, his 18th birthday celebration recently drew scrutiny from Spanish authorities. The Ministry of Social Rights has requested a prosecutor's investigation following complaints about entertainers with dwarfism hired for the private event.
