Barça's reasons for giving Lamine Yamal the number 10
The 17-year-old star, who will inherit a number loaded with symbolism, has shared images of Maradona and Ronaldinho.
BarcelonaIt won't be official until he turns 18 on July 13, but it's already a public secret that Lamine Yamal will wear Barça's number 10. He himself has been responsible for spreading the word on social media. the loan of his friend Ansu Fati, After the frustrated replacement of Leo Messi's number 10, the Rocafonda star has shared on his Instagram – a social network he loves – first an image of Maradona, wearing the number 10 during his time as a Barça player, and then of Ronaldinho. The club is preparing an event with the player and his family so that, when he reaches the age of majority, they can officially announce that the number 10 will become his.
This also seeks to make amends for a ceremony for the player's renewal, held behind closed doors on May 27, of which almost no images have been released. Barça is confident that the official announcement of the brand new number 10 will greatly encourage the fans and will be a major boost, both in terms of marketing and shirt sales. In fact, coinciding with the launch and marketing of the new kit for the 2025-26 season, quite a few fans have already approached the club stores to order it with the name Lamine Yamal and the number 10.
Barça had previously given that number to important players, with some bids having failed. Since the 1995-96 season, the owners have been: Gheorghe Hagi (1995-1996), Giovanni (1996-1999), Jari Litmanen (1999-2000), Rivaldo (2000-2002), Riquelme (030) (2003-2008), Leo Messi (2008-2021) and Ansu Fati (2021-2023 and 2024-2025). Lamine Yamal inherits the number 10 shirt at 18, the same age as Ansu Fati in 2021. Messi, the most successful number 10 in Barça history, started wearing him at 21.
Risks and advantages of giving the number 10 shirt to Lamine Yamal
From a more social perspective, turning 18 means "passing into adulthood, although it is still a stage of adolescence," Marcela Herrera, professor of performance psychology at UVic and member of the Catalan Association of Sports Psychology, tells ARA. In fact, some people consider it premature to award the number 10 to Lamine Yamal. One of them is the writer Jordi Puntí, author of, among other works, the book All Messi and more, which features the number 10 worn by the Argentine star on the cover in both the Catalan (Empúries) and Spanish (Anagrama) editions. "At only 18, I think it's too early. I'd wait one more season to see what happens with the Ballon d'Or and also to see what happens with him. To what extent the maturity we see in him is consolidated in a meteoric career," says Puntí.
The writer believes that giving Lamine Yamal the number 10 has two main reasons: one "more symbolic" and the other "more practical." The symbolic reason is explained by "the need to turn the page on the Messi era." According to Puntí, "that was already attempted with Ansu Fati, but it was a resounding failure." That's why he also considers it "premature" to give Lamine Yamal the number 10 now. "Waiting a year wouldn't do any harm. A year without a number 10 in the squad would also underline the significance of Messi's absence. Also, considering that he will probably return at some point, even if it's just to play a tribute match," explains Puntí.
The huge void left by Messi and the disenchantment with Ansu Fati largely explain the "practical" reason why the club wants Lamine Yamal to wear the number 10 now: "Barça really needs to find a star player and Lamine Yamal has so far shown that he can be one, and he can do it early. Although it's true - the writer continues - and this can also be explained from an economic perspective, that giving him that number will sell a lot of shirts." Although Puntí believes it's early, he also believes that the talent "is willing to take on that burden of responsibility."
Herrera concludes that, despite his youth and being in the media spotlight, Lamine Yamal has had a "very natural attitude regarding his developmental stage." The psychologist states that "the signals that the player has sent so far are that he feels comfortable with what's happening to him: he knows who he is and where he is." However, Herrera adds that managing this new "freedom" that coming of age will grant him is also a variable to consider. "In the locker room, he has an ecosystem that allows him to develop his personality, which sets limits and accepts certain attitudes. Outside, his closest environment is a testament to the player's adjustment to the adult world. We must support him so that he takes responsibility for the results of his decisions and actions and becomes aware of what this entails," he concludes. Wearing Barça's No. 10 is a gift, but also a great responsibility.