17-year-old Barcelona superstar projected to hit an even higher ceiling next season – Report | OneFootball

In many ways, Hansi Flick has unlocked and enabled this Barcelona team to reach even crazier heights this previous season. For La Blaugrana, expectations were not nearly as high as what the new coach enabled to team to achieve. Fortunately, Flick and Barcelona will get to do it all over again next season.

Hansi Flick improved this Barcelona squad

Raphinha had the best season of his career under Hansi Flick. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images)

Many players rose to the occasion last season, including the likes of Brazilian star Raphinha. His performances were crucial for Barcelona, and it has turned him into an untouchable asset for the German coach this season as well.

However, another key asset for Barcelona across the last two seasons has been Lamine Yamal. The Spanish winger, despite just being 17 years old, has become an undisputed starter for the Catalan giants and is one of the first names on the team sheet as well.

Lamine Yamal projected to fly even higher

Yet, there is no denying the jump in quality that he showed in the most recent season compared to his previous campaign. According to AS, Yamal jumped from 7 goals and 9 assists to 18 goals and 25 assists when comparing the 2023/24 season to the 2024/25 season.

To put that into context, he increased his goal output by 2.5 times and his assists by 2.7 times. When referring to the Barcelona star, this statistical comparison highlights his exceptional ability to improve his performances and he has done so in some of the most crucial matches this season as well.

Thus, heading into next season, there is an expectation that his numbers can grow even wilder. If only data is strictly addressed, the jump of 2.5 times in terms of goals and 2.7 times in terms of assists when applied to his already impressive tally from last season would mean he would end up scoring 45 goals and providing 67 assists.

Aiming for bigger and better

Lamine Yamal stepped up for Barcelona in the biggest moments. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)

Frankly speaking, those numbers are simply impossible to achieve. However, what is true is that Yamal can definitely improve from his tally this season and continue the trend of growth that he has shown in recent campaigns as he looks to start next season as a nailed-on starter for Hansi Flick’s Barcelona.

Moreover, Yamal is now growing past the stage of simply winning youth awards at both club and international level. That reality is not due to his age, which is ironic considering he is eligible for Under-21 awards for almost the next 4-5 years, but instead due to the immense gulf in quality between him and others players in his age group. Now, awards like the Ballon d’Or seem to be his main target moving forward.

Coincidentally, next season will also include the FIFA World Cup 2026 in which all major countries will look to compete for football’s greatest prize. For Yamal and Spain, it is a big opportunity to carry on their domination from the last European Championship and aim for glory.

The Barcelona star needs to be more clinical

However, Yamal will definitely need to improve his clinical presence in front of goal. Instead of missing or wasting good opportunities, he will need to add variety to his finishing ability and find new ways to find the back of the net as well.

Interestingly, he already seems to have a good grasp on the fact that he has the ability to find any corner of the net when he places his shots right. In fact, he proved that in nearly every single El Clasico that he played in the most recent season.

Against Andriy Lunin in the first official Clasico of the season, Yamal found the roof of the net with his weaker right foot. Then, against Thibaut Courtois in the Spanish Super Cup final, he found the bottom left corner of the goal with a grounded shot. After that, this time in La Liga, he beat Courtois with his signature shot to find the right corner of the goal.

More responsibilities headed his way

In fact, that last type of shot is something that he has consistently delivered with precision and power against multiple opponents. For instance, he executed that shot and scored against the likes of Athletic Club, Inter Milan, SL Benfica, and RCD Espanyol among other teams.

Reportedly, he also wants to take set pieces next season, but that decision will ultimately rest with Hansi Flick. By himself, Yamal can continue to improve his efficiency and already-impressive decision-making step by step, and combining that with the responsibility of the number ‘10’ shirt will only further cement his status.