Lamine Yamal Shatters Kylian Mbappe's Champions League Record in Historic Achievement
Lamine Yamal extended his remarkable ascent as one of the most exceptional young talents in Champions League history on Tuesday, establishing a new benchmark for goal contributions by any player aged 18 or under.
Yamal provided the assist for Jules Koundé's decisive goal in Barcelona's 2–1 triumph over Eintracht Frankfurt. During his inaugural Champions League appearance at Camp Nou, Yamal recorded his 14th goal contribution in Europe's elite club tournament, surpassing Kylian Mbappé's previous record for players under 19 years of age.
Since his Champions League bow in September 2023 at merely 16 years and 68 days old—making him the third youngest player to debut in the competition's history—Yamal has accumulated seven goals and seven assists across 28 matches.
His progression throughout the last three campaigns has been absolutely extraordinary, and this recent achievement serves as additional proof of his exceptional career path, as he continues shattering records once held by some of football's elite performers.
Top Champions League Goal Contributors at 18 or Under
Position | Player | Goal Contributions |
|---|---|---|
1 | Lamine Yamal | 14 |
2 | Kylian Mbappé | 13 |
3 | Raúl | 7 |
4 | Jude Bellingham | 6 |
5 | Rodrygo | 6 |
6 | Theo Walcott | 5 |
7 | Bojan Krkić | 5 |
8 | Geovany Quenda | 5 |
9. | Warren Zaïre-Emery | 5 |
Hansi Flick Playfully Threatens to Bench Lamine Yamal
Despite setting this historic record, Yamal appeared far from celebratory. The young star displayed visible disappointment and irritation when withdrawn in the 89th minute of the contest.
When questioned about Yamal's reaction after the match, Barcelona manager Hansi Flick offered a lighthearted response.
"Next time he'll sit on the bench, it's not a problem for me" Flick remarked with clear sarcasm. "No, it's Lamine [Yamal], it's like it is. He received a yellow card, also five minutes to go and we had to make a substitution, that's why.
"I completely understand [his frustration] because everyone wants to remain on the field, he believes he can also play 90 minutes or 100 minutes, he's young. It's fine, I think it's also a positive mentality. For me, I have no issue with that. I fully accept it, not a problem."
Yamal's booking means he'll be absent from Barcelona's upcoming Champions League fixture against Slavia Prague. Nevertheless, he'll return for his team's final league phase encounter and, since he won't turn 19 until next summer, Yamal has the remainder of the season to further extend his freshly established record.
Complete Analysis of Lamine Yamal's Champions League Goal Contributions
Campaign | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
2023–24 | 10 | 0 | 2 |
2024–25 | 13 | 5 | 3 |
2025–26 | 5 | 2 | 2 |