In the high-stakes world of professional football, it’s rare to find a player who openly admits to feeling nervous. But Barcelona’s 17-year-old sensation Lamine Yamal is not your typical footballer. In a candid interview ahead of this weekend’s clash with eternal rivals Real Madrid, the young forward revealed he had butterflies in his stomach before making his Clásico debut last season.
“I have never been nervous in a game to be honest, but when I came on for my Clásico debut, there were some nerves,” Yamal confessed to LaLiga World. The teenage prodigy, who was still only 16 at the time, came off the bench in the 76th minute as Barcelona succumbed to a late Jude Bellingham winner at the Olympic Stadium last October.
Yamal’s admission is a refreshing reminder of the human side of these sporting demigods we watch week in, week out. Even for a precocious talent who has taken the football world by storm, the weight of expectation in a fixture as grand as El Clásico can be daunting.
A Meteoric Rise
Lamine Yamal’s journey from La Masia hopeful to first-team regular has been nothing short of meteoric. The fleet-footed winger, blessed with searing pace and mesmerizing close control, has broken record after record in his fledgling career.
Last summer, Yamal helped fire Spain to glory at the European Under-17 Championship, cementing his status as one of the most exciting young talents in the global game. His performances for club and country have belied his tender years, with many pundits tipping him as a future Ballon d’Or contender.
“I don’t usually think about it much, but now that I am saying it, yes, there are many things that make you very happy and I hope there are more to come,” Yamal said of his growing collection of records and accolades.
Superstardom Beckons
With his prodigious talent and rapidly growing profile, Yamal is having to adapt quickly to the trappings of superstardom. The youngster’s No.19 shirt is already one of Barcelona’s hottest commodities, with fans clamoring to get their hands on a piece of footballing history in the making.
“I was already more or less aware of it when I made my debut, but this summer was the boom I think because now you go to the airport and you see people wearing my shirt,” Yamal revealed. “You go around Barcelona and there are a lot of people [wearing my shirt].”
For a 17-year-old still learning his trade, it’s a lot to take in. But Yamal appears to be taking it all in his stride, his feet remaining firmly on the ground even as his star continues to soar.
Clásico Stage Awaits
This weekend, Yamal will once again take center stage as Barcelona lock horns with Real Madrid in LaLiga’s headline act. The youngster is expected to start on the right wing, where his electric pace and trickery could prove decisive in a match that could have major ramifications for the title race.
“This year, when I receive the ball, I feel the crowd start to shout and that really motivates me,” Yamal said. “I just look at the full-back and I go for him with everything.”
It’s that kind of fearlessness that has endeared Yamal to the Blaugrana faithful, who see in him shades of the club’s all-time greats. The comparisons with Lionel Messi are inevitable, but Yamal is determined to carve his own path.
As he prepares to step out onto the hallowed Bernabéu turf, Yamal will surely feel those Clásico nerves jangling once again. But if his meteoric rise so far is anything to go by, expect the teenage sensation to take it all in his stride. The stage is set for Lamine Yamal to write another chapter in his burgeoning legend.
