Barcelona has a new record breaker in their midst. Lamine Yamal, aged 15 years, 9 months and 16 days, became the youngest player to make his debut for the Blaugrana in La Liga. Yamal came on as a substitute for Gavi during Barcelona’s 4-0 victory against Real Betis on Saturday.
Yamal's debut surpassed the previous record held by Paulino Alcántara, who was 15 years, 4 months and 18 days old when he made his debut in 1912. Yamal also joins a small group of players who have made their debut for the club at such a young age, which include Armand Martínez-Sagi in 1920 (14 years, 6 months and 16 days), and Carles Comamala in 1903 (14 years, 7 months and 5 months).
Barcelona's manager, Xavi, praised Yamal's performance and potential, saying, "Lamine doesn’t seem like a 15-year-old, he’s very mature. He’s ready [to play] and he is training well. He can mark an era at this club as part of this team."
Even though Yamal's debut came late in the match, he still had an impact on the game. He had a chance to score, but his shot was saved by the Betis goalkeeper. Yamal's teammate, Raphinha, expressed his excitement about the young player's debut, saying, "Seeing him come on in front of the fans was incredible. It would have been even better if he scored, but I am sure he will get one sooner rather than later."
Barcelona's 4-0 victory against Real Betis, which included goals from Andreas Christensen, Robert Lewandowski, an own goal, and Raphinha, took the Blaugrana 11 points clear at the top of La Liga with just six games to play. With Yamal's debut, Barcelona has added another young talent to their already impressive roster.