Lamine Yamal Opens Up on Messi, Ansu Fati, Hansi Flick, the No. 10 Shirt, and His Dreams: ‘I’ll Do My Best to Carry On That Legacy’
Lamine Yamal Becomes Barça’s New No. 10: “I’ll Try to Make All the Culers Proud”
Lamine Yamal is officially FC Barcelona’s new No. 10 — a number worn by some of the greatest players in football history: Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona.
The 18-year-old winger was handed the iconic shirt today during a special ceremony, where he also signed a new contract that will keep him at the club until 2031.
After a brief chat with Barça’s in-house media, Lamine spoke to reporters at the Barça Store, opening up about what this moment means to him — both the renewal and the responsibility of the No. 10 shirt.
Reflecting on the occasion, the teenage sensation said:
“This renewal means I get to keep playing for the club I love — the club of my life. I’ll keep enjoying every moment. There’s no pressure, just happiness and a new number to wear.”
When asked if this long-term deal is the beginning of a legendary journey at Barça, he replied:
“Renewing until 2031 is a huge step for me. It’s the start of a road I hope will be long and filled with victories. We’ll see what happens, but the goal is to enjoy it even more than last season and hopefully make my dreams come true here.”
Naturally, the No. 10 shirt was a major talking point — the same number worn by Messi, and more recently Ansu Fati. Lamine responded with humility and perspective:
“Messi made his own path. I’m going to make mine. The No. 10 is coming to me from Ansu now, and I’ll do my best to make all the Culers proud — both those in the stadium and those watching from home.”
Lamine Yamal on Carrying the No. 10 Legacy, Handling Pressure, and His Big Dreams: “I’ll Try to Wear It with Honour”
When asked how he plans to carry forward the legacy of legends like Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and Diego Maradona — all of whom wore the iconic No. 10 shirt at FC Barcelona — Lamine Yamal responded with humility:
“I hope so. They’re three legends of football, three legends of this club. I’d take something from each of them if I could. I’m grateful for the trust the club has shown me, and I’ll do my best to continue that legacy.”
Still just 18, Lamine is already one of the most talked-about young stars in world football — and with that spotlight comes constant praise, scrutiny, and expectations. But the La Masia product seems grounded in how he handles it all:
“To be honest, whether it’s criticism or praise, if it doesn’t come from my family or people really close to me, I don’t pay much attention. Otherwise, one day I’d feel like I’m on top of the world, and the next I’d be at the bottom.”
Looking ahead, Lamine has set ambitious goals for himself — not just individually, but for the team:
“I haven’t won the Champions League yet, so that’s definitely one of the goals — winning the Champions League and the World Cup. I want to win the title we’ve been missing, and keep growing and playing well.”
As for whether he ever imagined wearing the famous No. 10 at Barça, Lamine admitted it was a childhood dream:
“When I was a kid, my dream was just to debut for Barça. Now I get to wear the No. 10 — and every kid who grows up loving this club dreams of that. I’ll try to wear it with great honour, and I’m incredibly thankful for the trust that’s been placed in me.”
Lamine Yamal on Flick’s Message, Teammates, Family, and Life Away from Football
Ahead of the special ceremony where he signed his long-term contract and was officially handed the No. 10 shirt, Lamine Yamal shared a light-hearted moment with new Barça manager Hansi Flick.
“Flick told me we’ve got a double session tomorrow… so I should go to bed early,” he said with a smile.
On the support from the locker room, Lamine added:
“Everyone congratulated me. We’ve got a really close-knit group, and I’m very grateful to all of them.”
The young star also took a moment to highlight the presence of someone truly special in his life — his grandmother, who made it just in time for the event:
“The ceremony had been postponed because she was still in Morocco. I really want to repay her for everything she’s done for me… although I know that’s impossible, because she’s done so much.”
Despite the growing fame and attention that surrounds him, Lamine remains grounded. Speaking about life away from the pitch, he explained:
“At the end of the day, I work for Barça, I play for Barça… but once I leave the Ciutat Esportiva, I live my life and just enjoy it.”
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