The Olímpic Lluís Companys Stadium (Barcelona) exploded after the final whistle of the first leg of the Champions League semi-final. The 3-3 draw between Barcelona and Inter Milan in the first leg of the Champions League semi-final was not only a feast of goals but also the peak debut of a young football genius – Lamine Yamal.

“He is better than Messi”

As the Inter players quietly retreated with shocked looks on their faces, some of them could not hide their emotions: “He is even better than Lionel Messi”.

The word spread like wildfire. No need to mention his name, everyone knew who “he” was. It wasn’t a one-off moment. Yamal didn’t just impress – the young talent won over fans.

Yamal is no stranger to fans. The 17-year-old prodigy shone brightly in Spain’s Euro 2024 campaign – scoring a superb goal against France in the semi-finals and assisting the opening goal in the final. But it was his performance against Inter that proved to be the turning point. From a young talent, Yamal has become a key player.

The way Barca players kept feeding Yamal the ball in all positions on the pitch made it clear. And every time he received the ball, he made it special. Smooth, tricky and creative moves. Cool, confident finishes. A skill set that would make any defense wary.

The highlight of the match came when Yamal curled the ball perfectly from outside the box, without any run-up, but still with incredible speed and accuracy. It was a rare finish – but for Yamal, it was not the first time. It was exactly how he scored against France at Euro 2024.

Not yet 18 years old, Yamal possesses incredible finishing skills, combined with rare tactical vision and confidence.

Not yet 18, Yamal possesses incredible finishing skills, combined with tactical vision and rare confidence. Every touch of the ball makes the audience expect miracles.

Yamal also silenced the stadium by spinning past Federico Dimarco, before unleashing a thunderous shot that Yann Sommer had to push against the crossbar. Then a chip that looked like a bad pass, but turned out to be an idea beyond anyone’s imagination.

For Yamal, he didn’t just play football. He invented football.

Yamal is not a copy of anyone

Comparisons with Lionel Messi are inevitable. Especially as both came from La Masia, and both burst onto the scene for Barcelona as teenagers.

But Yamal is not a Messi clone. He is a new chapter in the book of football.

If Messi conquers the world with his calm and masterful control of the game, Yamal is an emotional lightning bolt – a player who can tear apart a defense with a single move. He doesn’t play by the book, doesn’t adhere to a set system. Yamal creates his own style of play – instinctive, wild and unpredictable.

At a time when Barcelona were drowning in debt, selling stars and cutting spending, Yamal’s arrival was like a rain to relieve the drought. Not only on the pitch, but also off the pitch – he was a commercial diamond, the hope of the club’s revival.

When Joan Laporta was re-elected in 2021, Yamal’s name was not mentioned. But just three years later, this young talent has become the first name people remember when talking about the future of the Catalan team.

Lamine Yamal continues to have top performances.

Barcelona people used to say: “We have another genius”. And it is true. Football lovers are witnessing the same emotions they had when Messi appeared: excitement, expectation and happiness at seeing a player who breaks the usual mold.

But the special thing is, this time we don’t need to call his name. Just say “he”, everyone knows it’s Yamal.

No one can predict exactly what the future holds for Yamal. But one thing is certain, the 17-year-old talent is already part of Champions League history. Yamal dominated the first leg of the semi-final. He gave Inter a scare.

And Yamal will be the name people will be talking about for at least the next decade.

When the whistle blew in Barcelona, a big question mark hung over every spectator’s face: “What happens next?” And the only answer, suggestive, was: “Stay. You don’t want to miss a moment.”