Camp Nou stadium dey hot like pepper soup as Lamine Yamal, dis 18-year-old Barcelona wonderkid, just finish another show for LaLiga derby against Espanyol. The boy play like say na video game wey dem set to expert mode. For game number 100 for am for LaLiga, Yamal become the first player this season to reach double figures for both goals and assists. Make we yarn small about context: Lionel Messi reach 20 years before e do am. Cristiano Ronaldo don clock 26. But this pikin just dey 18.
For the Espanyol match, Barcelona coach Hansi Flick rotate some players because Champions League dey for mind. But Yamal still start. And wetin happen? The boy decide the whole match by himself. First goal come from corner wey Yamal win with backheel wey sweet die. Ferran Torres head am enter net. Second goal, Yamal use outside of boot pass give Torres again. Third goal na Yamal score am, beat goalkeeper and celebrate before ball even enter net. Fourth goal na Marcus Rashford score after Yamal pass arrow behind defence.
Stats no fit fully explain why Yamal dey so special, but some numbers dey irresistible. Since e make Champions League debut at 16, Yamal don complete 116 dribbles for the competition – pass any other player. E dey top for through-balls too. Ousmane Dembele beat am to Ballon d'Or last year, but many people dey talk say Yamal don already become world best. Who else do this kind thing as teenager? Nobody since Pele.
For Camp Nou, you go see plenty shirts with Yamal name, especially for children body. Like pop stars, the next generation don find their own hero. Yamal easy for them to identify with not just because of talent wey dey otherworldly, but because of e exuberance. When e score, e dey dance for crowd and conduct them like orchestra. When ball go out of play, e dey wave arms, urge fans make dem shout louder. E dey wear heart for sleeve right above that taped wrist.
But not everything dey smooth. Off the pitch, Yamal unpredictability cause small wahala this season. E make one remark about Real Madrid say dem “steal and complain” before El Clasico. Even team-mates accuse am of giving Madrid extra motivation to win. Coach Flick talk say: “E no good to make this noise around everything wey e dey do. I know everybody dey look am because e na fantastic player. But e just dey 18.”
The thing be say, for pitch, Yamal make people forget e age. Robert Lewandowski talk say e play like 25-year-old. Pau Cubarsi, Barca defender wey know Yamal since dem be pikin, talk say e play like 30. This one no be just talk – e decision-making consistently dey on point. E dey blend emotion and maturity in way wey dey confuse people.
Many people don stop dey imagine how good Yamal go become because e don already reach there. E don become conspicuous leader for this Barcelona team. This one show clear clear for Champions League quarter-final first leg against Atletico Madrid at Camp Nou. That night, everything go wrong for Barcelona. Cubarsi get red card, Rashford miss chances, and dem end up lose 2-0 before return leg.
But through everything, Yamal dey on one-man mission to bend game to e will. E play superb. Julian Alvarez collect player of the match award because of result, but any scout wey dey that stadium go notice Barcelona No 10. Torres once talk say e no sure Yamal know wetin pressure be: “E look like say e dey play for schoolyard.” But that night no be performance of player wey no know wetin dey at stake. That one make am more impressive.
As Pedri talk: “No matter how game dey go, we know say e go come into e own.” Yamal do exactly that – e dey dart and dance towards Atletico defence. Even for losing effort, e create more chances than anybody else for pitch. E attempt as many dribbles as e team-mates combined, pass entire opposition. E nine successful dribbles na the most by any player for Champions League game this season.
Now, Thierry Henry don join those wey dey praise Yamal. The former France striker compare Yamal fearless attitude and bold confidence to young Cristiano Ronaldo. For Champions League quarter-final second leg at Wanda Metropolitano, Yamal back up e pre-match talk by scoring early goal to briefly give Barcelona hope. Henry talk say: “This na wetin young Cristiano Ronaldo used to do: e fit talk boldly for interviews and back am up for pitch. Yamal talk say e go carry Barcelona single-handedly, and barely two minutes into game, e don already score. But wetin impress me pass na e fearlessness.”
Although Ferran Torres level the tie on aggregate, Ademola Lookman goal see Barcelona eliminated. But Yamal performance still dey make people talk. Defeat that night deny us final for the ages against Paris Saint-Germain. Now, work dey for Yamal and Barcelona to do just to reach last four. While e still early for e career, this one suppose dey frustration. E need these big games. And these big games need am.
More silverware with Spain dey distinct possibility for World Cup this summer. Yamal self don talk say e want win many Ballons d’Or, not just one. But no doubt say Champions League triumph go make achieving that more likely. E need remontada to stay for competition. After seeing Yamal serve three-goal win against Espanyol without even hitting top gear, nobody fit rule am out. Coach Flick talk say Barcelona no need miracle – and e correct. Not with genius like Lamine Yamal around.
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