Stats prove Barcelona prodigy is upstaging global veterans in assists

Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal is having an exceptional season, and the fact that he is only 17 years old makes it even more impressive. 

The young forward has displayed a level of skill and dominance on the field that is hard to ignore. In fact, his presence on the pitch is commanding, and this is reflected in the statistics that highlight just how talented he is, placing him among the top players.

This season marks a significant step in Yamal’s career, following his breakthrough last season under Xavi. Now, under Hansi Flick, Yamal has become a key figure in the team and one of Barcelona’s main attacking threats. 

Whenever he has not been on the field, the team has noticeably struggled, showing just how crucial he is to their success.

A look at his numbers

So far, Lamine has played 29 matches for Barcelona, scoring 10 goals, making him the third-highest scorer for the team. 

However, his playmaking ability is just as important, if not more so, than his goal-scoring. 

Lamine Yamal has provided 14 assists this season. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images)

The young forward has provided 14 assists this season, though his assist in Sunday’s match against Alaves, which was ruled as a shot attempt, was not counted. Of these assists, 10 came in La Liga, two in the Champions League, and another two in the Cup.

This makes Lamine the top assist provider for Barcelona, surpassing Raphinha, who has 13. In fact, Lamine’s assist tally is the highest in all of La Liga, ahead of players like Raphinha, Jude Bellingham, and Inaki Williams, all of whom have six assists.

A global overview

Looking at players from other top leagues, only Mohamed Salah of Liverpool has more assists, with 17. 

However, it is worth noting that Salah has played 33 games, while Yamal has only appeared in 29 matches, and Salah is significantly older, turning 33 before Yamal even turns 18.

Yamal’s achievement is remarkable, as he ranks among the best in Europe, even compared to established stars like Bukayo Saka (13), Michael Olise (12), and Vinicius Jr. (10), all of whom have fewer assists than him.