Lamine Yamal has undergone a clear change: hampered early in the season by pubalgia and dragged into controversy, he has come back as a decisive attacking force after hard work and regaining focus.
In the tie against Albacete the Rocafonda forward produced a standout performance — scoring, creating for teammates and taking part in build-up play. He scored for the fourth official match in a row with Barcelona, a run he had not achieved before. His goal at the Carlos Belmonte stadium opened the scoring in the 1–2 win that sent the team into the Copa del Rey semi-finals.
Across his 135 appearances for the first team he had previously put together other scoring sequences, including notable bursts in January 2025 — against Athletic and Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup and a cup goal versus Betis. A year earlier, in May, he also scored important league goals: against Real Madrid in Montjuïc (4–3), against Espanyol (0–2) which sealed the title, and versus Villarreal (2–3) at home.
Current numbers show he is in a rich vein of form. Lamine is the team’s second top scorer this season with 14 goals in 29 matches, two behind Ferran Torres, and he leads the squad in assists with 13. He is close to his personal single‑season best — last term he finished with 18 goals in 55 appearances, so he is four strikes shy of that mark so far.
In the recent game against Albacete his match statistics stood out: he created the most chances (5), completed the highest number of passes in the final third (38), completed the most successful dribbles (5), delivered the most accurate crosses (8) and was second in total interventions with 104 (compared to Eric’s 106). Alongside Frenkie de Jong he was also among the outfield players with the most ball recoveries (5).
The turning point in his revival dates from the Clásico at the Santiago Bernabéu on 26 October. Before that clash, his preparation and effectiveness were hampered by lingering pubalgia and by media attention after remarks he made in the Kings League; on top of that he had been in the spotlight for his 18th birthday celebrations and his relationship with singer Nicky Nicole. In the Bernabéu match he had little impact, and that prompted a change in approach.
He withdrew from the media noise, focused on recovery with personalised training to treat the pubalgia, and slowly regained sensations and confidence. He also showed greater maturity on the pitch: avoiding provocation, cutting out complaints and making better decisions, engaging more in team play rather than always trying to take opponents on alone. He stopped being predictable and became a creator and a match finisher.
Before the Clásico he had only three goals; since that Bernabéu game he has added 11 goals and six assists. His improvement arrives just as the most decisive fixtures of the season approach — an encouraging sign for him as he can again aim for Ballon d’Or recognition, and for Barcelona, which needs its leader in top form to dream of Champions League success.