There has never been a speck of doubt on Lamine Yamal’s quality, and the player has only gone on to defy logic game after game.
Last year, he finished as the runner-up for the Ballon d’Or behind only Ousmane Dembele and there were massive expectations on him ahead of the 2025-26 campaign.
Not only did the player continue to deliver under that pressure but he also exceeded all expectations of him by developing into a great goalscorer alongside being a prolific creator.
The best player in Spain
Earlier today, Yamal was officially crowned La Liga’s Player of the Season for the recently concluded campaign ahead of even Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe. Needless to say, the accolade is truly deserved.
Lamine Yamal, Barcelona player
The best player on the planet? (Photo by Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images for Laureus)
While continuous minutes did indeed take a toll on his developing body at various junctures in the season, Yamal consistently stayed as one of the league’s best creators and was instrumental in Barcelona’s charge to the title.
In 26 starts and 28 appearances in the competition, Yamal racked up 16 goals and 11 assists and ended the season as the team’s highest goalscorer and La Liga’s highest Spanish goalscorer.
He was crowned La Liga’s Player of the Month thrice in the season – in November, December and April – and thus became the first-ever player to do so.
In a race against time
The fact that Yamal won the Player of the Season while suffering from pubalgia for a significant part of the opening stages and a hamstring injury for the tail-end of the season is staggering and a testament to his greatness.
Lamine Yamal of Spain
Will Yamal start Spain’s first game of the World Cup? (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
He missed the team’s final stretch of the campaign due to an injury and is currently in a race against time to make it to Spain’s first game of the FIFA World Cup.
His recovery is progressing well as matters stand and there is good hope that he will be available for the first game in the event. Yet, Luis de la Fuente and Co. will be wary of his recent injury and look to field him only when he is back to 100% fitness.