Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal is preparing to take on the monumental task of wearing the club’s most iconic jersey — the No. 10 — and he’s doing so with reverence for the man who made it legendary: Lionel Messi.
Speaking during a promotional tour in China for adidas, the 16-year-old prodigy—who turns 17 this weekend and will then become eligible to don the famous number—made it clear that he fully understands the weight of expectation.
“For me, Messi is the best player in history,” Yamal said. “I liked everything he did, all over the pitch, everything about his game. And it’s been a truly beautiful thing for me.”
Walking in Giants’ Footsteps
The No. 10 shirt has remained one of football’s most sacred symbols, largely because of Messi’s historic legacy at the club. Ansu Fati was the first to inherit the number after Messi’s 2021 departure to Paris Saint-Germain, but his career was derailed by injuries. Fati has since been loaned to AS Monaco, with an option to buy — leaving the revered jersey vacant once again.
Yamal, who has already worn Messi’s old No. 19, is widely regarded as the natural heir — both symbolically and in terms of talent. It’s long been whispered around Camp Nou that the teenager would be given the No. 10 once he turned 18, but now, with Fati out of the picture and Yamal’s birthday approaching, that rumor is becoming a reality.
A Calm Before the Storm
Unlike many of his peers, Yamal will enter the 2025–26 season fully rested. With no international tournament this summer and Barcelona absent from the FIFA Club World Cup, the rising star is expected to be fresh and raring to go as the season kicks off.
Barcelona, who claimed a domestic treble last season, may also enjoy a competitive edge over bitter rivals Real Madrid. Los Blancos’ run to the semifinals of the Club World Cup could leave them fatigued, offering Barça a valuable head start in La Liga.
More Than a Number
While the No. 10 shirt brings with it an incredible legacy, Barcelona fans are hopeful that Yamal’s humility, maturity, and skill will allow him to carve his own path without being crushed by the burden of comparison.
In paying homage to Messi, Yamal isn’t trying to copy — he’s simply honoring a legend while preparing to write a new chapter for the club. If his trajectory continues, Lamine Yamal might just turn Barcelona’s most sacred number into his own legacy.
