Lamine Yamal one goal away from 50 for Barcelona

Barcelona defeated Elche 5-0, but not everybody left the pitch with an expression matching the scoreline. Lamine Yamal did not score or provide an assist and looked visibly frustrated after being substituted. The team began the season in emphatic fashion. His personal total remained stuck on 49.

Another opportunity arrives against Athletic Club on Thursday. If Lamine scores at Spotify Camp Nou, he will become the youngest player in Barcelona history to reach 50 official first-team goals. He is still only 19.

A distinction is necessary because a similar milestone appeared several months ago. Lamine reached 50 goals in his entire senior career after scoring the winner against Athletic at San Mamés in March. That total included his goals for Spain.

The current figure concerns Barcelona alone. According to Mundo Deportivo, the winger scored seven times in 2023/24, followed by 18 goals in 2024/25 and 24 last season. Together, those campaigns have taken him to 49 official goals for the club.

His first arrived away to Granada on 8 October 2023. At 16 years and 87 days old, Lamine became the youngest goalscorer in La Liga history. Age records have appeared beside his name with such regularity since then that Barcelona could almost justify assigning a staff member solely to update the list.

The 50-goal mark would carry more weight than most of those statistical curiosities. Lionel Messi did not reach 50 Barcelona goals until he was 21. Lamine can do it at 19, an age when most players are still trying to establish whether they belong in the first-team squad.

Athletic are also a fitting opponent. Lamine has faced the Basque side six times in La Liga, producing five Barcelona victories and one draw. He has scored twice, first in August 2024 and then at San Mamés in March 2026.

That second goal secured a 1-0 victory and took him to 50 senior career goals when his Spain record was included. He now has the chance to reach the same number for Barcelona alone against the same opponent.

His opening appearance of the new season did not go according to the usual script. Raphinha and Fermín López scored twice each in the 5-0 win over Elche, while Karim Adeyemi marked his debut with a goal. Lamine was left outside the main cast for once.

One match without a goal contribution is hardly a problem. His reaction to being substituted did show that taking part in a comfortable victory is not enough for him. Wearing Barcelona’s number 10 shirt and carrying the status of the club’s biggest star brings enormous expectations. Many of them have been created by his own performances.

Thursday’s match will be Barcelona’s first home league fixture of the season at Spotify Camp Nou. Kick-off is scheduled for 9pm CEST on 27 August. Lamine can score his first goal of the campaign and become the youngest player to reach 50 for the club at the same time.

Barcelona only need him to score once. With Lamine, that is usually enough for another “youngest in history” announcement to be prepared.