FC Barcelona has officially bestowed its iconic No. 10 shirt, famously worn by club legend Lionel Messi, upon teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
The club confirmed the decision on Wednesday at a special event celebrating the winger’s new long-term contract, which runs until 2031. Yamal, who recently turned 18, inherits the number from Ansu Fati, who has joined AS Monaco on a season-long loan.
The No. 10 jersey at Barcelona is one of the most revered in world football, having been worn by legends such as Messi, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, and Diego Maradona. Messi himself wore the number from 2008 until his departure in 2021, a period in which he became the club’s all-time leading scorer and won four Champions League titles.
“When I was a child, my dream was to debut for Barça, to grow up and play with the No. 10,” Yamal said on Wednesday. “Every kid born in Barcelona dreams of that. Messi has made his way, and I’m going to make mine.”
The honour comes after a stellar breakthrough season for Yamal, who has already made 106 appearances and scored 25 goals for the club since his debut. He was a key part of the team that won a domestic treble of La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup last season, and also helped Spain win the European Championship last summer.
The announcement, however, comes as Yamal faces an investigation from the Spanish government over allegations that individuals with dwarfism were hired as entertainers at his 18th birthday party.
When asked about the controversy on Wednesday, Yamal sidestepped the issue. “In the end I work for Barça, but when I’m away from the club’s training center, I enjoy my life and that’s it,” he said. “I’m indifferent to both criticism and praise if they don’t come from my family or people close to me.”
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