Brazil international Raphinha has paid tribute to teenage sensation Lamine Yamal, admitting the young winger’s remarkable rise at FC Barcelona forced him to rethink his own position in the side.
The pair have become one of the most effective attacking partnerships in European football over the past two seasons under German coach Hansi Flick, helping Barcelona regain domestic superiority over rivals Real Madrid.
Their performances have come during a period of rapid development for Yamal, who has emerged as one of world football’s brightest young stars despite still being a teenager. Barcelona’s players are now preparing to travel to the United States ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which is scheduled to take place from 11 June to 19 July with an expanded 48-team format for the first time in the competition’s history.
Speaking to the media, Raphinha reflected on his arrival at Camp Nou after joining Barcelona from Leeds United during the summer transfer window of 2022.
The Brazilian revealed that he initially wanted to establish himself on the right wing after discussions with former Barcelona coach Xavi Hernandez. However, the emergence of Yamal quickly changed the situation inside the squad.
Barcelona handed Yamal his senior debut in April 2023 when the forward was only 16 years old. From that moment, the youngster rapidly secured a regular place in the starting line-up and soon established himself as one of the club’s key attacking players.
His rise also opened the door to international success with Spain national football team, where he became part of the squad that won the UEFA Euro 2024 title.
Raphinha admitted that competing directly with the teenager for a starting role became virtually impossible because of Yamal’s quality.
“I only wanted to play on the right side when I arrived at Barcelona, but I couldn’t compete with Lamine for his position; he’s an exceptional talent. So I had to adapt to other positions.”
The comments underline the growing influence Yamal now has at Barcelona despite his young age. The winger, who is approaching his 19th birthday in the coming weeks, is currently regarded as the most valuable footballer in the world according to estimates from Transfermarkt.
The statistics platform values the Spain international at 200 million euros following a series of standout performances for the Catalan club over the last three years.
Since being promoted to Barcelona’s first team, Yamal has played 151 matches across domestic and continental competitions. During that period, he has scored 49 goals and produced 52 assists, figures that underline both his consistency and creative influence despite his age.
His partnership with Raphinha has become one of the defining features of Barcelona’s attack, with the duo playing a central role in the club’s recent domestic success.
