Spanish ahead is termed a ‘genius’ after turning into the youngest scorer in a Champions League semifinal.
After witnessing from the touchline how Lamine Yamal pushed his Inter Milan lineup to the restrict, Simone Inzaghi has stated abilities just like the Barcelona teenager come round solely as soon as in a half-century.
“He’s the sort of expertise who’s born each 50 years, I had by no means seen him dwell and he actually impressed me in the present day,” the Inter coach stated after Yamal helped Barcelona rally in a scintillating 3-3 draw on Wednesday within the first leg of their UEFA Champions League semifinal.
“Lamine Yamal precipitated us so many issues within the final 25 minutes of the primary half.”
Enjoying his one hundredth recreation at simply 17 years and 291 days outdated, Yamal turned the youngest participant to attain in a Champions League semifinal, eclipsing the document set by Kylian Mbappe, who was 18 when he achieved the feat in 2017.
Barcelona coach Hansi Flick described his 17-year-old participant as “a genius” after Yamal placed on his newest expertise present in his one hundredth recreation for the membership’s senior squad.
“He’s particular. I’ve stated it earlier than, however he’s a genius,” Flick stated.
“Within the huge matches, he reveals up, and I believe he loved the state of affairs. I’m actually completely happy that this expertise, if it solely comes each 50 years like Simone stated, I’m glad it’s for Barcelona.”
‘Actually unbelievable’
Yamal dismissed any comparability to Lionel Messi in his first information convention for his membership a day earlier than Inter got here to city. However his efficiency recalled one of the best days of Messi as his teammates fed him passes and let him choose Inter aside from the best flank.
Every time he had the ball he was both looking for a teammate in scoring place or dipping his head and dribbling previous his marker. And his aim was one for the YouTube compilations.
Inter had a 2-0 lead and the momentum from targets by Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries, and it appeared like they’d left Yamal with nowhere to go within the twenty fourth. However he slipped round one defender, sped previous a second, after which, placing the ball on his left foot, he curled a shot previous the turning heads of at the very least two extra Inter gamers. The ball smacked the far submit and was cradled within the internet.
He went so near bettering that moments later when he glided previous two defenders and sliced a shot from a sliver of an angle off the crossbar.
“This man is unimaginable,” Manchester Metropolis striker Erling Haaland posted on Snapchat with a screenshot of Yamal’s shot off the bar.
Former Manchester United footballer turned commentator Rio Ferdinand rated Yamal above all different gamers within the high 5 soccer leagues world wide.
“Actually unbelievable,” Ferdinand wrote in a submit on X.
As a pure soccer expertise I’m going so far as to say I believe Lamine Yamal is on one other degree to any participant enjoying the sport within the high 5 leagues in world soccer.
17yrs outdated – Actually unbelievable pic.twitter.com/T0ErTFJPQw— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) April 30, 2025
Younger participant hungry for extra
Yamal fed passes to Ferran Torres and Dani Olmo for back-to-back pictures that Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer saved earlier than Raphinha took over and headed a ball down for Torres to ram house for 2-2 earlier than halftime.
Dumfries put Inter forward once more earlier than Raphinha ensured the draw with a long-range strike that discovered the web. However Yamal was upset {that a} remaining push for a winner got here up brief.
“The entire world can see what a superb footballer he’s. He’s a participant who shines,” Inter midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan stated.
“We tried to cease him, however that was so troublesome as a result of he’s bought nice expertise. I hope we don’t let him play this a lot subsequent week.”
Yamal stated he appreciated the reward however simply wished to deal with the following match with a European Cup simply two wins away.
“I’m completely happy to have helped the crew, and now we have to go for extra,” he stated.
“We knew we might have gained the sport however now we’re simply centered on the second leg and going via.”
