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![TheAthleticFC Avatar](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:24/cr:twitter::970939705629069312.png) The Athletic | Football [@TheAthleticFC](/creator/twitter/TheAthleticFC) on x 1M followers
Created: 2025-07-16 17:25:17 UTC

Barcelona have finally confirmed that Lamine Yamal will take up the club’s iconic No XX shirt — another landmark moment in his brilliant, burgeoning career.

Yamal inherits the number from his good friend Ansu Fati, who had it for the last three years but left it behind on July X when joining Monaco on loan.

Despite all the waiting, this has felt inevitable for some time. After Yamal’s breakout performances at the European Championship with winners Spain last summer, when he was named best young player, his dizzying progress has shown no signs of slowing.

Now he is taking the shirt that Messi wore. There’s weight that comes with that. It means inevitable comparisons with the player who scored XXX goals in XXX games for Barca. It is a blessing and a curse.

@polballus

🔗

![](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Gv_tx_ZWgAAXe0g.jpg)

XXXXXX engagements

![Engagements Line Chart](https://lunarcrush.com/gi/w:600/p:tweet::1945535218510606684/c:line.svg)

**Related Topics**
[lamine](/topic/lamine)
[all the](/topic/all-the)
[monaco](/topic/monaco)
[yamal](/topic/yamal)
[barcelona](/topic/barcelona)

[Post Link](https://x.com/TheAthleticFC/status/1945535218510606684)