Lamine Yamal on Barcelona's Champions League dream: "I hope we can bring it back this year"

Lamine Yamal knows exactly what he wants from this season with Barcelona: to lift the Champions League trophy. The 17-year-old winger gave an interview to the programme 'ON Sport' in which he analysed the team's strong start, talked about the Ballon d'Or race and explained why he believes the squad is ready to fight for everything. His message left no room for doubt: the dressing room is not just there to compete, it wants titles.

• Lamine Yamal believes the Champions League demands luck, experience and consistent performances throughout the knockout rounds.
• The winger sees the Ballon d'Or as a real possibility and does not hide the fact that individual awards also matter.
• He refuses to choose between Lewandowski and Raphinha, highlighting the different qualities each player brings to the attack.
• Barcelona are in a great moment and the academy graduate credits the mix of veterans and new signings for raising the overall level.
• He offers praise and advice to Hamza Abdelkarim, a young forward he sees with a bright future.

What Barcelona need to win the Champions League according to Lamine Yamal

For Lamine, the Champions League cannot be reduced to one brilliant match or a single perfect tie. The winger explained that the winner depends on several factors that build up season after season, with a special emphasis on the combination of luck and experience. That mix, he said, is what allows a team to survive when things do not go well on a given night.

Everything depends on destiny. The Champions League is not decided in one match; you can play badly and lose the title.

The academy graduate made no secret of his ambition for the current campaign. His wish is to see Barcelona lift the trophy and bring it back to the city, something the club has not achieved since 2015. He knows the road is long, but he trusts that luck will be on the side of a team that, in his words, is not in the competition just to stroll around.

Ballon d'Or: Yamal does not rule out fighting for the individual award

Lamine Yamal's name is firmly in the Ballon d'Or conversation. The player did not avoid the question and admitted that he sees the award as a realistic option. His reasoning is simple: everyone competes to win, whether collectively or individually, and the Ballon d'Or represents the summit of that second path.

However, the winger kept the focus on the team. While he acknowledged the importance of personal recognition, his priority remains that titles go to Barcelona. That mindset, he explained, is shared by the entire dressing room.

Lewandowski vs Raphinha: the qualities Lamine Yamal sees in each one

Raphinha's spectacular start as a central attacking reference has opened the debate about his role compared to Robert Lewandowski. Lamine did not want to make direct comparisons. Instead, he preferred to underline that each forward offers different strengths and that the team adapts to what each one brings.

• Robert Lewandowski stands out for his ability to finish attacking moves.
• Raphinha excels as a passer and as a player who gives continuity to the attacking play.
• Barcelona do not depend on a single profile: the tactical richness comes from combining both qualities.

That variety is, in the eyes of the academy graduate, one of the keys to Barcelona's good form. The adaptation of the new players and the growing understanding among the veterans have raised the collective performance and allow the team to offer entertaining football week after week.

The quality leap in Barcelona's start to the season

Lamine had no hesitation in acknowledging that Barcelona have taken a step forward compared to previous campaigns. The winger spoke about a leap in level, performance and quality that comes both from the arrival of reinforcements and from the chemistry within the group. For him, a winning mentality is the common denominator of all the players.

The dressing room works, in his words, like a big family. That atmosphere, combined with the desire to win every match, is what allows the team to maintain high standards week after week. Lamine made it clear that they will always do what they consider best for the collective, without individual attitudes that break the dynamic.

Lamine Yamal's advice to Hamza Abdelkarim

The winger also had words for Hamza Abdelkarim, the young forward who is starting to attract attention at the club. Lamine highlighted his goalscoring instinct and his ability to adapt, describing him as a footballer with a bright future ahead. At his age, he noted, there is plenty of time to grow without external pressure.

Lamine's message was clear: stay calm and keep believing. He said that nobody will demand immediate results or blame him for any mistakes he might make. The aim is for him to feel comfortable within the team and to make the most of every minute to keep gaining experience.

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