Football: Lamine Yamal takes over No. 10 from Messi, Ronaldinho, and Maradona Lamine Yamal, the young star of FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team, will inherit Barça's No. 10 this season, which was once worn by Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, the Catalan club announced on Wednesday. Often compared to Messi, who also graduated from La Masia, the club's youth academy, the winger, who recently celebrated his 18th birthday in controversial circumstances, wore No. 19 last season. Since 2021, the No. 10 has been assigned to Ansu Fati, who transferred to Monaco this summer. The youngest player in Barça's history to make a league debut—in April 2023, he was only 15 years and nine months old—Yamal has since become a key player for the club, scoring 25 goals in 100 appearances. He played a key role in last season's treble (league, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup). "Messi has paved his way and I will pave mine," he told reporters at an event at the club's Camp Nou store. "I will work as hard as I can, give my all, and try to make the Barça fans here and at home happy." Yamal has been making headlines in Spanish newspapers in recent days after celebrating his eighteenth birthday at the weekend at a private party that featured dwarf entertainers. The Ministry of Social Rights has called for an investigation to determine whether the dignity of those affected has been violated following a complaint filed by the Association of People with Skeletal Dysplasia with Dwarfism (ADEE). "At the end of the day," Yamal said, "I work for Barça, I play for Barça, but when I'm off, I enjoy my life, and that's it." The young winger, who extended his contract last May until 2031, said he was approaching the 2025-26 season with the desire to win the Champions League with Barça and the World Cup with Spain next summer. "I hope to enjoy myself even more than last season and make my dreams come true," said the man who is a contender for the next Ballon d'Or. Besides Messi, other footballing greats have worn the No. 10 jersey for Barça, such as Diego Maradona and Ronaldinho. "Three legends of football, three legends of this club," Yamal said. "I am grateful for what they have given to my club and I will try to extend this legacy." AFP