Lamine Yamal: Episode II

Last season was Lamine Yamal's breakthrough season. He had actually made his senior debut in 2022/23 at the age of just 15, but it was in 2023/24 that he became an official member of the first team squad and started amassing a seemingly never-ending series of records.

Perhaps the most talked-about footballer in the world right now, he has just been nominated for the Ballon dOr at the age of just 17 years and 53 days. That makes him the youngest candidate ever, almost two years younger than the previous record-holder, Kylian Mbappé.

But there is no denying that despite his youth, he earned every single bit of the praise being bestowed upon him. He scores, he gives assists, and his does it all with dazzling skills. And the best thing of all is that this is just the start. As he matures, the mind boggles as to what the future might have in store with for this unique footballing talent.

Leader in assists

Lamine Yamal may not have scored against Valladolid, but he gave two assists. Last season he gave nine assists across all competitions all season. This time round he has already got four in just four games. And that puts him top of the Liga ranking in that category.

In 42 league games, he has had 14 goal participations (6 goals and 8 assists), more than any other played aged under 18 this century. The previous record holder was Bojan Krkić with 13 (10 goals and 3 assists)