Lamine Yamal has been handed the enduring Barcelona No. 10 shirt beforehand worn by Lionel Messi, the Catalan membership confirmed Wednesday.
Yamal, who celebrated turning 18 on Sunday, inherits the quantity subsequent season from Ansu Fati, who completed a seasonlong loan move to AS Monaco earlier this month.
The affirmation of Yamal’s new quantity was made at an occasion with the winger and his household to have fun his new contract, which was agreed on last month and runs till 2031.
– Lamine Yamal: Barcelona star’s meteoric rise
– Who are Barcelona’s greatest No. 10s?
– Nico Williams explains Athletic deal after Barça links
Messi wore the No. 10 jersey at Barcelona from 2008 till his departure to Paris Saint-Germain in 2021. The Argentina nice turned a legend at Camp Nou, serving to Barcelona win 10 LaLiga titles and 4 Champions Leagues whereas turning into Barça’s all-time main scorer.
“After I was a baby, my dream was to debut for Barça, to develop up and play with the No. 10,” Yamal stated Wednesday. “Each child born in Barcelona goals of that. Messi has made his approach, and I will make mine.”
Fati succeeded Messi because the No. 10 in 2021, however a collection of accidents noticed him battle to take care of his place with the crew.
Within the meantime, Yamal has emerged as one of many standout gamers for each Barça and Spain.
{The teenager}, who has already made 106 appearances for Barça and scored 25 targets, will tackle probably the most important shirt numbers within the membership’s historical past. Along with Messi, the quantity has additionally beforehand been worn by Barça greats together with Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Romário and Diego Maradona.
Yamal had hinted on the change in current weeks as he posted images of Argentina legend Maradona, Ronaldinho and Messi on social media, the previous two whereas they had been carrying the Barça No.10 shirt.
It will likely be the fourth quantity Yamal has worn with Barça. He had No. 41 when he made his debut in 2022-23, No. 27 the next season after which final 12 months No. 19, the identical quantity Messi wore earlier than taking No. 10.
Our new No. 10 pic.twitter.com/OtaCSGPj6t
— FC Barcelona (@FCBarcelona) July 16, 2025
Yamal has gained two LaLiga titles, one Copa del Rey and a Spanish Supercopa with Barça. He helped Spain win the European Championship final summer season.
“I have not gained the Champions League and the World Cup,” he stated. “These are my targets now.”
The announcement comes as Yamal faces an investigation from the Spanish authorities into attainable breaches of incapacity legal guidelines following allegations that people with dwarfism had been employed as entertainers at his 18th birthday celebration.
Yamal sidestepped the controversy on Wednesday.
“In the long run I work for Barça, however once I’m away from the membership’s coaching heart, I take pleasure in my life and that is it,” Yamal stated. “I am detached to each criticism and reward if they do not come from my household or individuals near me.”
Info from Reuters and The Related Press was used on this report.
