Lamine Yamal rises to become Europe's leader before turning 19

The game versus PSG on the morning of October 2 (Vietnam time) once again highlighted a significant historical achievement for Lamine Yamal.

The young Barcelona star has become the player under 19 with the most appearances in Champions League history. With his 24 appearances in this prestigious tournament, Lamine Yamal officially surpassed Warren Zaïre-Emery's record (23 matches before turning 19). However, Zaïre-Emery turned 19 on March 8, 2025, making it impossible for him to improve this record further. Yamal overtook his peer right at Montjuïc stadium, during the direct encounter between the two teams.

Top 3 players with the most Champions League matches before age 19:

1. Lamine Yamal: 24 matches

2. Warren Zaïre-Emery: 23 matches

3. Pau Cubarsí: 18 matches

Besides Yamal, Barcelona has another player in the top 3: Pau Cubarsí. This young center-back reached 18 Champions League appearances before his 19th birthday, matching the record of former prodigy Bojan Krkić. Both Cubarsí (turning 19 in January 2026) and Yamal (July 2026) still have time to increase their totals.

Lamine Yamal has continuously made history in the Champions League within just over a year of professional play. The milestones held by Barcelona’s number 10 include:

1. Youngest player in Barcelona history to debut in the Champions League: 16 years and 68 days

2. Youngest starter in the Champions League: 16 years and 83 days

3. Youngest player to provide an assist: 16 years and 153 days

4. Youngest player to participate in the knockout stage: 16 years and 223 days

5. Youngest player to reach 10 Champions League appearances: 16 years and 278 days

6. Player under 19 with the most Champions League appearances: 24 matches (new record)

Breaking these records consecutively shows that Lamine Yamal is not only Barcelona’s future but also one of the most promising young talents worldwide today. Under Hansi Flick’s management, Yamal regularly features in both La Liga and the Champions League, allowing these records to continue falling. With consistent performance and an almost guaranteed starting spot, it would be no surprise if Lamine Yamal keeps raising his record to levels that will be very hard to surpass for many years to come.