Lamine Yamal never masks his feelings.
He showed it after being subbed, teary‑eyed, in Barcelona’s opening La Liga clash with Elche, then displayed fierce resolve against Rayo Vallecano on Monday.
Before kickoff, the 19‑year‑old perched alone atop the Camp Nou tunnel steps, just beyond the dressing rooms, while teammates gathered below.
Yamal lingered, brow set, fists clenched, only rising as his peers streamed onto the pitch to the club anthem.
Seeing him so solemn is rare; he’s usually buoyant, brimming with confidence, even dozing on the coach en route to the Euro 2024 final while Spain’s squad jittered.
What sparked this unease?
Social feeds and tabloids hinted he was angry over Alejandro Balde’s treatment and Ferran Torres’ PSG exit.
Both theories miss the mark. He simply felt he should be performing better.
Sources close to Yamal — speaking off the record — say his sulk stemmed from frustration with recent displays.
After battling groin pain from November until early 2026, he arrived at the World Cup nursing a thigh injury, leaving him far from peak form.
He helped Spain win, yet never delivered the breakout moment many expected. Following a three‑week break, he returned to Barcelona, and the new campaign began with sub‑par outings.
Against Elche on Aug 23 he created two chances and missed both; a 65th‑minute substitution by Flick left him disgruntled. Barça led 2‑0 and finished 5‑0.
In the 2‑0 home win over Athletic Club, Yamal enjoyed several opportunities but couldn’t beat Unai Simón. He started sluggish, improved after halftime, and featured heavily in play.
He remained a threat and vital to Barça, yet questions lingered. Athletic’s coach Edin Terzic offered an intriguing reply after the match.
“Let’s remember we’re dealing with human beings,” he said. “A youngster who’s lived incredible moments in recent weeks.”
At 19, Yamal already boasts a World Cup, a Euro title, three league crowns, two Super Cups and a Copa del Rey – an impressive haul. For my money, his trophy cabinet is still far from full.
He craves more, driven by the pressure to become his team’s focal point and the world’s best.
Entering Monday’s Rayo game, he was frustrated and hungry for a goal, though Barça’s start was shaky.
The hosts fell behind 1‑0 after a slick 12th‑minute strike by Sergio Camello. Yamal had already missed two chances, appearing slightly tense, holding the ball too long once and mistiming a trivela.
Raphinha equalised in the 19th minute, and two minutes later Yamal seized his moment.
Marc Bernal gathered a rebound, fed Yamal, who feinted, set up his shot and unleashed a curling strike from the box edge into the top corner – unstoppable.
His grin returned, the first in weeks, as he pointed toward the stands where his mother Sheila Ebana and partner Inés García watched, then dove into a knee slide, relief evident in his eyes.
That marked his 50th Barça goal in 154 appearances, making him the youngest player in Europe’s top five leagues to hit the mark, overtaking Mbappé and Haaland.
Yamal and Barça never looked back, the forward sealing a dominant win with a long‑range finish in the 90th minute, securing a 5‑2 victory.
It was his 51st goal; Barcelona have now netted 12 times in their first three games, despite lacking a traditional No 9 after Lewandowski and Torres departed.
They still covet Julián Álvarez, yet Atlético’s stance seems unchanged as the transfer deadline looms. Up in the stands, Gabriel Jesus observed.
The 29‑year‑old Brazilian, set to join from Arsenal for roughly €10 million, will surely admire Yamal’s display. Could his rise signal the next chapter for Barcelona’s attack?