Lamine Yamal made the headlines again as the 17-year-old delivered a masterclass performance in Barcelona’s thrilling 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
The teenager dazzled with a sublime solo goal and hit the woodwork twice on his 100th appearance for the Blaugrana.
The Italian giants went ahead in the first minute with a Marcus Thurman flick and Denzel Dumfries made it 2-0 within 21 minutes. Barcelona, however, refused to buckle, and it was Yamal who ignited their comeback.
In the 24th minute Yamal produced a moment of magic, gliding past Thuram, and Mkhitaryan before curling a precise left-footed shot off the post and into the net.
Yamal wasn’t done. He created two chances, completed six successful dribbles, won eight duels, and struck the woodwork twice, including an audacious chip that looped over Inter’s defense and kissed the crossbar.
Amid the frenzy of Yamal’s latest triumph, a photo from March 2020 surfaced online sparking a wave of disbelief. The image showed a 12-year-old Lamine Yamal during a youth match between Barcelona and Real Madrid, standing with hands on hips during a COVID-19 lockdown match.
His round face and slender frame bore the unmistakable signs of childhood, yet his confident posture hinted at the star he would become. At the time, Yamal was a promising talent in La Masia, Barcelona’s famed academy, training in a world gripped by uncertainty.
Fans on X and beyond couldn’t believe their eyes –
This is what Lamine Yamal looked like at the start of Covid pic.twitter.com/mFfGI91mYn
— Matteo Bonetti (@Bonetti) May 1, 2025
The contrast between the 2020 photo and now is staggering.
Now 17, he’s taller, leaner, and more muscular, with the athletic build of a winger who combines pace, power, and finesse. His new bleached blonde hairstyle adds a flashy edge to his persona.
Physically, the transformation is clear: the slender boy has grown into a dynamic athlete capable of outrunning and outmuscling seasoned defenders. But it’s the evolution in confidence and maturity that truly stands out.
The 2020 image shows potential—a kid with dreams. Now in 2025, Yamal is a star who’s already broken records, including becoming the youngest scorer in a Champions League semi-final, surpassing Kylian Mbappé’s mark from 2017.
Yamal’s journey from La Masia hopeful to Barcelona’s linchpin mirrors the path of a generational talent. At 12, he was honing his skills in a world paused by COVID-19, unaware that five years later, he’d be the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final and the heartbeat of a Barcelona side chasing a treble.
