Barcelona young star Lamine Yamal inherited the club’s iconic number 10 shirt, previously worn by all-time great Lionel Messi, on Wednesday.
“Messi made his path, and I will make mine,” Yamal told reporters at an event at the club shop at the Spotify Camp Nou stadium.
“I will work as hard as I can, give everything and try to make those Barca fans who are there happy and those who are at home.”
The 18-year-old winger, who has been compared to the Argentine legend who also came through the club’s La Masia youth program, helped the Catalan giants win three domestic titles last season.
He signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2031 in May, making him one of the club’s highest-paid players.
“I hope to enjoy myself more than last year and make my dreams come true,” continued Yamal, who said he wanted to win the Champions League with the Catalan giants and also the World Cup with Spain.
Yamal has 25 goals for the club in over 100 matches, making his debut in 2023 at the age of 15 with the number 41 shirt.
“Barca is my life. I’ve been here since I was seven. For all kids from La Masia, their dream is to make it to the first team, and I’m doing it, and I have to keep working,” said Yamal.
“When I was little I dreamed of being at Barca and having this number.”
After a season wearing the number 27, Yamal followed in Messi’s footsteps last summer, taking the number 19, which the Argentine wore at the club from 2005 to 2008.
Ansu Fati inherited Messi’s number 10 shirt in 2021, when the current Inter Miami player departed Barcelona for Paris Saint-Germain.
Having suffered a series of injuries, Fati was unable to reach his full potential at Barcelona and moved on loan to Monaco earlier in July.
Other notable players who have worn the Barcelona number 10 shirt include Diego Maradona, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo.
“(Messi, Maradona, Ronaldinho) are three legends of football, three legends of this club,” said Yamal.
“I am grateful for what they gave the club, and I will try to continue this legacy.”
Yamal made headlines this weekend when he celebrated his 18th birthday with a private celebration including dwarf entertainers.
Following a complaint from the Association for People with Achondroplasia and Other Skeletal Dysplasias, Spain’s Ministry of Social Rights requested that the public prosecutor conduct an investigation into the party.
“In the end, I work for Barca; I play for Barca, but when I’m away from (the club), I enjoy my life, and that’s all,” he added.
