It’s time to say it out loud... Barca’s new King of Camp Nou walks amongst us.
For a brief period Ansu Fati walked on water in Catalonia and was seemingly destined to be the natural heir to Lionel Messi.
Let’s not forget that Fati was a goal poacher and finisher extraordinaire, but apart from bursting onto the scene in the same way as the Argentinian World Cup winner at a preposterously young age, the reality was that there was little else to compare the two.
There is an argument of course that no one will ever compare to Leo though it’s human nature to do so and everyone’s opinion will be different - but no less valid.
Atletico de Madrid v FC Barcelona - La Liga EA Sports Photo by Jose Breton/Pics Action/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Lamine Yamal is no longer the new kid in town, and in the space of a couple of seasons he has shown that he is a player that is cut from the same cloth as La Pulga.
Watch that goal against Benfica back. Every facet of it is world class, and that finish was sumptuous. Messi-esque you might say.
One thing that will worry culers is that Lamine does need to stay free of serious injury otherwise he could go the way of Ansu, and in many respects Barca have to play their part in that.
We only need rewind a couple of seasons to remind ourselves the ridiculously heavy workload placed on Pedri’s shoulders, which ultimately ruined his body and his rhythm for a few months.
Given the maturity that is now in evidence in Lamine’s game, one has to suspect that the club are trusting him to tell them if he doesn’t feel at 100 percent in order that they can plan accordingly.
FC Barcelona v SL Benfica - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 Round of 16 Second Leg Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images
Learning to cope without the player in some games has to become a regular occurrence too given just how many matches that clubs are expected to play these days.
A rest will clearly be of benefit even if Lamine has already made it crystal clear that he really hates being taken off. All the best players do.
At just 17, he is bearing the lion’s share of responsibility alongside the likes of Raphinha and Robert Lewandowski, and it hasn’t fazed him.
It’s actually had the opposite effect, with the youngster thriving on being given the chance to take on his direct opponent and either get in a cross or, as we’ve seen just lately, score important goals that could help to win titles.
Lamine still has a lot to learn and he’s a way off being a Barca legend at this point, but as Ansu looks set to exit the club in the summer, it would appear to be the appropriate time to anoint a new No.10.