Lamine Yamal set to be handed iconic Barcelona shirt number as teammate heads for exit ...Middle East

Lamine Yamal will reportedly wear the number 10 shirt at Barcelona this season, following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi.

The move comes as the iconic jersey is set to be vacated by its current holder, Ansu Fati, who is close to completing a loan move to Monaco.

Fati inherited the prestigious number from Messi following the Argentina maestro’s departure in 2021 after bursting onto the scene as a 16-year-old, breaking several goalscoring and appearances records in the process.

Despite his initial promise, however, the 22-year-old has struggled to follow up on this more recently, making just six LaLiga appearances last term, while he spent the 2023/24 campaign on loan at Brighton.

During his spell with the Seagulls, Barca froze the number 10 shirt, appearing to highlight their long-term faith in Fati.

But with the winger now set to depart the Camp Nou for a second time, it now seems the Spanish giants are keen for the prestigious number to have a new poster boy.

According to Mundo Deportivo, teenage sensation Yamal has been chosen as Fati’s successor to wear the shirt in the 2025/26 season.

Still aged just 17, the starlet has already established himself as one of the best players in the world, having starred in Spain’s Euro 2024 glory and winning the Golden Boy award in the same year.

He also played a major role in Barcelona’s LaLiga title triumph last season, weighing in with nine goals and 15 assists in the league.

The Spanish publication report Yamal’s continued standout performances and global appeal have convinced Barca he is the right man to shoulder the responsibility of such an iconic jersey.

Beyond Messi, its previous owners include football great Diego Maradona, as well as Brazil heroes Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Romario.

And while Fati looks set to depart the club imminently, with the Athletic reporting the Spaniard will undergo a medical with Monaco on Friday, fans may have to wait slightly longer until Yamal is officially unveiled as the club’s new number 10.

While the LaLiga champions will release their new home kit ahead of the new season on July 2, it is expected they will announce the shirt number change at a special event for Yamal’s 18th birthday in July.

The youngster comes of age on July 13, with the club planning to mark the occasion with a publicised celebration on a date close to this, as his birthday falls on a public holiday.

Having long been touted as Messi’s successor, Yamal’s shirt switch sees him yet again follow in the football icon’s footsteps.

Like the Argentina great, the winger has also risen through Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy to become a first-team star at a tender age, having both won the Golden Boy award as teenagers.

Yamal has also mirrored Messi elsewhere, with his current number 19 jersey at Barca previously worn by the Inter Miami captain when he first broke into the club’s senior team.

And the Spanish wonderkid will certainly be hoping he can continue to honour Messi’s legacy in his new jersey.

During his glittering 17-year career with the Barcelona, the number 10 shirt became synonymous with the 2022 World Cup winner, who established himself as one of the greatest footballers of all time in Catalonia.

He lifted a club-record 34 trophies at the Camp Nou, including 10 LaLiga titles and four Champions League crowns, as well as going down as their all-time top goalscorer, with 672 goals.

While this may be a tall order for Yamal, who currently boasts two league winners’ medals as well as last season’s Copa del Rey and Super Cup as his career honours, he certainly has time on his side.

The teenage sensation is currently enjoying his off-season after a stunning individual campaign, which saw him score 18 goals and provide 25 assists in 55 appearances, as he prepares to rejoin his side for pre-season training in the coming weeks.

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