Barcelona's Lamin Yamal is rapidly making his mark in the history of Europe’s premier club competition. After providing two assists in the match against Galatasaray, the 19-year-old Spanish talent has already surpassed legends like Steven Gerrard, Eden Hazard, and David Silva.
With his career total now standing at 13 assists in the Champions League (from 35 appearances), the young wonderkid has his sights set on even greater achievements. Here are six legendary players he could potentially surpass in this season's tournament:
1. David Beckham (14 assists)
Just one assist shy of matching the former Manchester United, Real Madrid, AC Milan, and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder, Yamal is keen to catch Beckham, who amassed over 100 matches in the tournament. (Note: Data sourced from UEFA's official website).
2. Andrea Pirlo (15 assists)
The Italian midfield maestro won the Champions League twice with AC Milan and played in two additional finals. Having played over 100 matches in the tournament, Pirlo's tally of 15 assists is now under threat from the young Catalan.
3. Marco Reus (15 assists)
The loyal German midfielder also boasts 15 assists in the Champions League, all of which he provided during his time at Borussia Dortmund across 72 matches before moving on to MLS.
4. Luís Figo (15 assists)
A Ballon d'Or winner at the peak of his career, Figo also recorded 15 assists in the premier European tournament. Barcelona fans certainly hope Yamal can surpass Figo solely on the pitch, avoiding any of his controversial transfers to Real Madrid.
5. Thierry Henry (16 assists)
The French forward is remembered not only for his phenomenal scoring but also for his ability to create chances for his teammates (let's not forget his 20 assists in a single Premier League season). In the Champions League, Thierry boasts 16 assists.
6. Raúl (16 assists)
Real Madrid legend Raúl once held the record as the Champions League's all-time top scorer until Cristiano Ronaldo broke it. Alongside his 71 goals, Raúl provided 16 assists, a feat well within Yamal's reach as he continues his extraordinary rise in the coming months.
