Barcelona’s wonderkid, Lamine Yamal, achieved another milestone on Sunday by starting against Rayo Vallecano in La Liga’s last game of the 2023–24 season. 

The start marked his 50th senior appearance for the Blaugrana, making him the youngest player in the club’s history to reach this milestone at just 16 years and 311 days old, surpassing the former holders Bojan and Pedri.

Yamal wasted very little time making an impact too. He teed up Robert Lewandowski after just two minutes to open the scoring. And with seven goals and seven assists since joining the first team this season under Xavi, the 16-year-old has proven himself to be a significant contributor to the team.

Manager Xavi was all praise for Yamal, highlighting his ability to change the game despite his young age. He expressed excitement for Yamal’s future and emphasized the importance of cherishing his talent for years to come.

“With Lamine Yamal, everyone can see that he’s 16 years old, but he’s a game changer. It’s marvelous. We have to enjoy him for many years to come,” he said.

Yamal’s emergence has indeed been one of the bright spots of what’s been a difficult campaign for the Blaugrana.