Football icon, formerly of FC Barcelona and Brazil, shares thoughts on Lamine adopting the number 10 jersey
Barcelona's promising young talent, Lamine Yamal, is poised to take on the club's legendary number 10 jersey from the 2025-26 season. The official announcement and presentation of Yamal with the number 10 will take place on his 18th birthday, July 13, 2025, a symbolic moment for both the young player and the club.
Historically, the number 10 shirt at Barça has been worn by some of the game's greatest legends, most notably Lionel Messi, who firmly established the shirt’s iconic status. Before Messi, other notable wearers included Rivaldo, a Brazilian legend who left a deep impact on the club during his tenure.
Rivaldo, a former Barcelona number 10 and Ballon d'Or winner, has expressed his belief in Yamal's potential. While there is no direct quote from Rivaldo about Yamal inheriting the number 10, his legacy as a past legend creates an important precedent. The anticipation surrounding Yamal's rise is significant, with high expectations placed on him to drive the club forward creatively.
Lamine Yamal's ascension to the number 10 role is expected to impact the team's dynamics, particularly affecting players like Raphinha. With his versatile forward play and creative flair, Yamal could lead to shifts in the attacking positions within Barcelona’s lineup, strategic tactical changes by the coach, and potential role adjustments for players like Raphinha.
FC Barcelona has already started selling the 2025-26 home kit with Yamal’s name but a placeholder number, anticipating the switch. Messi himself has reportedly engaged with Yamal, sending him messages of encouragement, symbolising a passing of the torch.
Yamal is being hailed as the "next Messi" by fans and media, underscoring the excitement around this new era for the club. The formal presentation on July 13, 2025, will mark a historic moment, with tactical implications that will ripple through the squad. This transition symbolises the evolving identity of FC Barcelona’s attack and the hopeful dawn of a new era.
Meanwhile, Rivaldo has also been linked with the signing of Nico Williams, who set up the opening goal in Spain's 2-1 final win over England in the Euro 2024 tournament. The potential transfer of Williams could complicate Raphinha's position at the club, according to Rivaldo.
However, the article does not provide any new information about the number 10 jersey at FC Barcelona or the temporary stint of Lamine Yamal at AS Monaco. Fati, who previously held the number 10 jersey, set several youngest goalscorer and appearance maker records for club and country while wearing the shirt. The number 10 jersey has also been worn by Ronaldinho, Diego Maradona, and Rivaldo himself at Camp Nou.
Sentence 1: Rivaldo, a former Barcelona number 10 and fellow Ballon d'Or winner, believes that the club's promising young talent, Lamine Yamal, has the potential to wear the iconic number 10 jersey, following in the footsteps of legends like Lionel Messi.
Sentence 2: In the world of football, discussions about the future of the game in the 2025-26 season are centered around AS Monaco's star player, Ansu Fati, and Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, both of whom have shown exceptional skill and promise, reminiscent of Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, and Rivaldo in their prime.
