Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has become the youngest player in La Liga history to register 40 assists, reaching the milestone more than four years earlier than club legend Lionel Messi.
The 19-year-old achieved the record during Barcelona’s 2-1 victory over Atletico Madrid on Sunday, 8 November, in the 12th round of the Spanish league.
Yamal played a decisive role in the result, setting up Fermín López for Barcelona’s second goal in a hard-fought encounter against Diego Simeone’s side.
According to statistics platform Mister Chip, the assist took the Spain international’s career total in La Liga to 40, making him the youngest player ever to reach that figure.
Yamal accomplished the feat at 19 years and 118 days, surpassing several established names in Spanish football, including Messi, who previously held a considerably older age at the time he reached the same milestone.
Yamal moves ahead of Messi in La Liga history
The difference between the two Barcelona stars is particularly striking.
Messi, widely regarded as one of the greatest players in football history, needed to reach the age of 23 years and 158 days before recording his 40th La Liga assist.
Yamal has therefore achieved the landmark more than four years earlier than the Argentine, underlining the remarkable progress he has made since breaking into Barcelona’s first team.
The historical rankings place López Ufarte second, having reached 40 assists at 22 years and 15 days.
Adrián Escudero occupies third position after achieving the milestone at 22 years and 349 days, while Seguí is fourth at 23 years and 74 days.
Etxeberria completes the top five, having reached the figure at 23 years and 158 days, with Messi following in sixth place at 23 years and 158 days.
Yamal’s achievement places him at the top of a list featuring some of the notable creative talents to have played in Spain’s top flight.
Yamal continues impressive Barcelona form
The latest record adds to an impressive individual campaign for the young Barcelona forward, who has continued to influence matches through his goals and creativity.
According to Transfermarkt statistics, Yamal has scored 13 goals and provided 12 assists in 16 appearances across all competitions this season.
His contribution against Atletico Madrid was another example of his importance to Barcelona, with his pass to Fermín López proving decisive in a match that required the Catalan side to overcome a difficult opponent.
At just 19, Yamal has already established himself as one of Barcelona’s most influential attacking players, combining goalscoring ability with an impressive capacity to create opportunities for his team-mates.
His latest milestone also provides another remarkable comparison with Messi, whose achievements at Barcelona set some of the standards that younger generations of players are now attempting to match.
Although Yamal’s career is still developing, becoming the youngest player to reach 40 assists in La Liga represents another significant achievement in his rapid rise.
With his contribution against Atletico Madrid, the Barcelona forward has not only helped his team secure an important league victory but has also written his name into Spanish football history.
