Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal becomes youngest scorer in La Liga history
Lamine Yamal has become the youngest scorer in La Liga history after netting for Barcelona against Granada on Sunday aged 16 years and 87 days.
The previous record had been held by Fabrice Olinga since 2012 following his goal for Malaga against Celta Vigo aged 16 years and 98 days.
Yamal walked the ball into an empty net after collecting a loose ball from Joao Felix at the back post in first-half stoppage time at Estadio Los Carmenes. The goal halved the deficit for Barcelona as Xavi’s side came from two goals down to draw 2-2.
It caps a week that saw Yamal sign a new three-year contract to keep him at Barcelona until 2026 following approaches from clubs across Europe.
The goal sees the winger break yet another record this year; he came off the bench against Real Betis in May to become the youngest player in La Liga history at 15 years and 290 days old. Jamal then became the club’s youngest starter — at 16 years and 38 days old — against Cadiz in August, and then Spain’s youngest international player and goalscorer aged 16 years and 57 days when he came off the bench and scored in a 7-1 win against Georgia in September.
He has made 11 appearances for Barcelona this season, five of which have come as a starter, and has provided two assists.
Yamal was supposed to be more involved with Barcelona Atletic, the club’s second team, this term. But after his breakthrough this season — including with Spain — he is expected to remain with the first team.
Barcelona were held to a 2-2 draw by Malaga on Sunday evening to leave them third heading into October’s international break.
Bryan Zaragoza had struck twice inside the opening half an hour to give the hosts a 2-0 lead before Yamal pulled one back on the stroke of half time. Sergi Roberto equalised five minutes from time for the visitors, who were then denied a late winner by the offside flag.
Barcelona return to action on October 22 against Athletic Bilbao.
‘The brightest youth prospect at the club’
Analysis from Barcelona Correspondent Pol Ballus
There is a consensus among those who closely follow Barcelona’s La Masia academy that Yamal can be regarded as the brightest youth prospect at the club right now.
Yamal joined Xavi’s first-team training sessions at the start of last season. The club ignored the fact he had not even been in a matchday squad for Barcelona Atletic, the club’s B team, let alone make his debut with them. Yamal has followed a similar path to Gavi, who also joined the first team straight from the under-19s.
