Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal made history on Wednesday night by becoming the youngest player ever to score in a UEFA Champions League semifinal, as the Catalan club played out a thrilling 3-3 draw against Inter Milan at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys.
The 17-year-old, who has African roots through his Equatorial Guinean and Moroccan parents, struck in the first half to give his side a foothold after they had fallen two goals behind.
His goal not only changed the momentum of the game but also saw him surpass Kylian Mbappé’s record as the youngest scorer in a Champions League semifinal at 17 years and 291 days.
Mbappé, of Cameroonian and Algerian descent, had set the previous record at 18 years and 140 days days while playing for Paris Saint-Germain in 2017.
Yamal’s goal capped a wild opening period in which five goals were scored, with Barcelona battling back to level terms before the break.
The teenager, composed and fearless on the big stage, completed the full 90 minutes and was one of his side’s standout performers throughout a chaotic contest.
Mbappé, now with Real Madrid, remains one of the competition’s most prolific figures, but his teenage feat has now been eclipsed by a player nearly two years younger.
With the second leg set for Milan, Barcelona must avoid defeat to secure a place in the final.
