At 17, Lamine Yamal makes brilliance a routine: Moment of the Week

It’s becoming almost routine now—every week, Lamine Yamal manages to deliver a breathtaking moment on the football pitch. His consistent brilliance makes it hard to focus on other players and moments in different leagues, as Yamal seems to create footballing magic with such regularity. And while his age is certainly remarkable, it’s not the only thing that sets him apart. Even if a seasoned player in their 30s were producing similar feats, fans would still be left in awe.

As of today, Yamal is just 17 years and 114 days old—the exact age Lionel Messi was when he made his debut for Barcelona. Remarkably, Yamal is already ahead of Messi in terms of appearances by 82 matches and has secured two major trophies (Euro 2024 and La Liga 2023/24). While no one is suggesting he’ll surpass the legendary Argentine, Yamal is achieving things at 17 that only a few, like Pelé, could claim to have done.

Before the derby against local rivals Espanyol, Yamal proudly showcased his latest trophy—the Kopa Trophy, awarded for being the best young player last year. Meanwhile, the Ballon d’Or, which he aspires to win one day, rested in the hands of Aitana Bonmati nearby. Interestingly, Yamal chose not to touch that trophy, a superstition reflecting his belief that he will lift it himself someday.

If he maintains the form he’s shown at the start of this season, his superstitions might just pay off. In the 12th minute of the game, he displayed once again why he’s such a hot topic in football discussions.

Espanyol’s coach, Manolo Gonzalez, was clearly aware of Yamal’s potential threat and deployed a strategy to contain him, crowding his side of the field. Defender Carlos Romero and winger Jofre Carreras kept close tabs on Yamal, supported by defensive midfielder Rafel Bauza, who aimed to block his passing lanes.

When Yamal received the ball on the right touchline, he found himself facing away from goal. The ball came to him just as Hector Fort made an overlapping run at right-back. It was clear that Espanyol’s defenders were intent on shutting him down; Romero moved in tight as Yamal turned to face the goal.

A subtle touch created space, but Romero and Carreras backed off, perhaps believing they had done enough to contain him. And while Gonzalez will find some justification in their defensive setup, they overlooked one crucial detail.

Dani Olmo had made a run into the box that, under normal circumstances, might have seemed risky. Yamal’s passing lanes appeared blocked, and another touch to adjust his angle would have likely put Olmo offside. Yet, as generational talents do, Yamal found an unexpected solution.

With a flash of his foot, he executed an extraordinary trivela pass. It’s one thing to strike the ball with the outside of his foot, but Yamal placed the perfect amount of curl on it, threading the ball past Romero and slipping it through the narrow gap between Leandro Cabrera and Bauza. The weight of the pass was impeccable; Olmo didn’t need to break his stride as he smoothly slotted the ball into the net.

What’s fascinating about this goal is the reaction from the crowd. Instead of the usual spontaneous eruption of cheers following a goal, the audience at the Olímpic Stadium had already begun to express their excitement with gasps and ‘ooohs’ as Yamal’s pass found its way through the defenders. The celebration followed once Olmo finished the move.

Yet again, it was another moment crafted by Yamal. It’s not tiresome; it’s simply beautiful to witness his talent unfold week after week.