The FC Barcelona forward is the youngest player to score a hat-trick in LaLiga EA Sports since 1934.
Lamine Yamal continues to make history, almost on a weekly basic. On Saturday, in FC Barcelona’s Matchday 26 game against Villarreal CF, the youngster scored his team’s first three goals in a 4-1 victory, for the first hat-trick of his professional career.
His three well-taken finishes, all from the right side of the pitch, were typical of his style of play, and put FC Barcelona 3-1 up by the 68th minute, after which the teenager was taken off to the sound of a standing ovation from the Spotify Camp Nou.
At just 18 years and 230 days of age, Lamine Yamal is the third-youngest player ever to score a hat-trick in LaLiga EA Sports and the youngest to do so in over 90 years. The only two players to ever score three goals at a younger age in Spain’s top division were Pablo Pombo (18 years and 200 days, in 1934) and José Iraragorri (17 years and 337 days, in 1930).
He is the youngest ever Barça player to record a league hat-trick, surpassing Giovani dos Santos (19 years and six days) and Lionel Messi (19 years and 259 days).
Lamine Yamal now has 13 league goals this season, and could soon break another record. The aforementioned Pablo Pombo holds the record as the Under-19 player with the most goals in a league campaign in Spain’s top division, with 14, and the current FC Barcelona forward is now only one goal away from that.
Moreover, it doesn’t seem like Lamine Yamal is slowing down. Six of his 13 league goals have come in the second half of the campaign. In other words, in the past eight matchdays.
The teenager is in excellent scoring form, and he boasts 18 total goals this season across all competitions, in addition to 14 total assists, 10 of them in LaLiga EA Sports .
On top of that, Lamine Yamal is running rings around defenders with his dribbling, arguably his most dangerous skill. His 113 successful dribbles are by far the most in Europe’s top five leagues this season, with the next closest being Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig on 81.
In LaLiga EA Sports , it’s Kylian Mbappé who is second in the successful dribbles ranking, with 62.
PLAYING WITH A SMILE ON HIS FACE
After completing the hat-trick against Villarreal CF, in which Lamine Yamal demonstrated all his dribbling and finishing skills, the teenager spoke to the media and revealed that he feels much happier now than he did earlier in the season.
He stated, “I wasn’t feeling great, it was a mixture of everything, groin pain... I wasn’t happy, and it showed. For about a week now, I’ve been feeling better. I’m smiling while I play. I’m very happy.”
The team’s coach, Hansi Flick, also spoke to this point, adding: “When he’s enjoying it, it’s perfect for him and for us.” And, that’s a worrying sign for FC Barcelona’s rivals, with Los Azulgranas sitting in first place and in a good run of form, inspired by their young superstar.