September 7: 19-year-old becomes Barcelona's fifth captain! Yamal breaks century-old club record as teammates vote him into leadership group_Eric Garcia_La Liga_Raphinha

On September 5, 2026, something happened in the Barcelona dressing room that caused a major stir across the football world. Nineteen-year-old Lamine Yamal was voted by his teammates as the fifth captain for the new season, becoming the youngest captain in more than a century of Barcelona's history and breaking the record previously held by Bojan, who was 20 years and 56 days old.

This captain selection was not simply decided by the coach — Flick directly appointed Raphinha and Pedri as the first and second captains, while the remaining three positions were all chosen by players through a vote. Yamal finished third in the voting and joined the captain group alongside Eric Garcia and Frenkie de Jong. This Barcelona team had just won two consecutive La Liga titles and was eager to compete for the Champions League, so allowing a 19-year-old into the leadership group showed that he was valued in the dressing room for more than just his football ability.

The story begins with the captain selection process. Barcelona underwent many changes during the summer, with former captain Ter Stegen leaving on loan and Araujo also departing through a transfer, leaving the previous captain structure disrupted. Head coach Flick first decided that Raphinha and Pedri would continue as the first and second captains, and the remaining places would be decided by a team vote.

After the voting results were announced, Eric Garcia, Frenkie de Jong and 19-year-old Yamal were selected into the captain group by their teammates. Experience and age have never been absolute requirements at Barcelona; teammates value performance on the pitch and influence in the dressing room more. Yamal's growth at Barcelona, from the academy to becoming a first-team core player, has been seen by everyone, and nobody felt he was undeserving.

Yamal's Barcelona career supports this position. He joined the La Masia academy at the age of seven. In April 2023, aged 15 years and 290 days, he made a substitute appearance in La Liga, setting Barcelona's record as the youngest debutant in club history. After officially joining the first team in July 2023, he continued breaking records: he became La Liga's youngest goalscorer at 16 years and 87 days, and surpassed Raul to become the youngest player to reach 100 La Liga appearances at 18 years and 272 days.

In the 2024-25 season, he recorded 18 goals and 21 assists in 55 matches, helping Barcelona reclaim the La Liga title. In the 2025-26 season, he scored 16 goals and provided 11 assists in 28 La Liga matches, won the La Liga Player of the Season award, and became the league's assist leader. In July 2026, Spain defeated Argentina 1-0 in the World Cup final, and Yamal became the first player to win both the European Championship and the World Cup before turning 20. In the same month, Transfermarkt valued him at €220 million, level with Haaland as the highest valuation in the world.

However, the actual chances for the fifth captain to wear the armband on the pitch are very limited. According to Barcelona's captain hierarchy, Yamal would only become captain if the first four captains — Raphinha, Pedri, Eric Garcia and De Jong — are all absent. Tasks such as pre-match speeches and communication with referees are mainly handled by Raphinha. But the symbolic meaning of this appointment is far greater than the practical use of the armband.

Wearing Messi's former No. 10 shirt, Yamal was personally voted into the leadership group by his teammates at the age of 19, something that had never happened in Barcelona's history. Traditionally, Barcelona captains have usually been long-serving and experienced veterans, but this time the club broke the usual order of seniority. Flick also said after the match that the team needs “players who can speak up and are willing to take responsibility.”

Yamal's upbringing helped him understand responsibility earlier than many players his age. He was born on July 13, 2007, in Esplugues near Barcelona, Spain, but grew up in the Rocafonda neighborhood of Mataro, an immigrant community where nearly half of residents face the risk of poverty. His father Mounir is a Moroccan immigrant who worked as a painter and waiter; his mother Sheila is from Equatorial Guinea and was only 16 when she gave birth to him. After their separation, she worked night shifts at McDonald's as a restaurant employee.

The family lived in a shared apartment, with the kitchen and bathroom shared with neighbors. During his father's most difficult times, he had to collect discarded items on the streets to exchange for food. On the day Yamal attended a La Masia trial, he forgot his football boots and temporarily borrowed a pair two sizes too large, then scored a hat-trick in a small-sided match. It was this environment that led him to say at 19: “I won't spend all the money I earn. I have the ability to leave a substantial legacy for future generations.”

Now, Yamal faces a completely different challenge. Previously, people focused only on his exceptional skills and ability to change matches, but after becoming a captain, he must set an example for the entire team during matches, training sessions and even days off. A Mundo Deportivo columnist wrote directly that great talent means great responsibility, and as a captain he must become a more important reference point both inside and outside the club.

This should not be a problem for him. Talent is something he was born with, but elevating himself through daily example is the task he needs to complete. If he can understand this, the Champions League and the Ballon d'Or he dreams of will be closer.