Lamine Yamal etched his name into Champions League history on a dramatic night at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, as the 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy became the youngest player ever to score in a semifinal of Europe’s premier competition surpassing a record previously held by Kylian Mbappé.
With Barcelona trailing 2-0 to Inter Milan after early strikes from Marcus Thuram and Denzel Dumfries, Yamal provided a moment of magic in the 24th minute to ignite a comeback. Latching onto a precise through ball, the teenager drifted past a defender with a silky feint before curling a first-time left-footed shot into the top-right corner, leaving Inter keeper Yann Sommer with no chance.
The goal, a perfect blend of technique and maturity, came at the age of just 17 years and 291 days breaking Mbappé’s record set in 2017, when the French star netted in a semifinal for Monaco against Juventus at 18 years and 140 days old.
Across the 2024–25 Champions League campaign, Yamal has now tallied four goals and four assists in 11 appearances, scoring in every knockout round so far a rare feat for a player of any age, let alone a teenager.
Barcelona keep treble bid alive
The Champions League semifinal first leg between Barcelona and Inter Milan delivered a high-octane spectacle at the Nou Camp, with six goals, with the tie now finely poised heading into the second leg.
It took just 30 seconds for the drama to unfold. Inter Milan stunned the home crowd almost instantly when Marcus Thuram flicked home a clever backheel finish, setting a new record for the fastest goal ever scored in a Champions League semifinal.
Inter doubled their lead in the 21st minute, capitalizing on Barcelona’s defensive frailty. Denzel Dumfries produced a moment of individual brilliance with an acrobatic overhead kick from inside the box, leaving Barcelona shell-shocked and facing a mountain to climb.
Just when the Catalans needed inspiration, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal stepped up in the 24th minute. On the occasion of his 100th club appearance, the teenage sensation collected a through ball, danced past a defender with composure, and rifled a left-footed strike into the top-right corner.
Barcelona completed the comeback in the 38th minute, with Ferran Torres finding the net from close range. But Inter were not done yet. Just four minutes into the second half, in the 49th minute, Dumfries struck again this time rising highest to power in a header from Hakan Calhanoglu’s corner.
Yet Barcelona had one more moment of magic left. In the 76th minute, Raphinha picked up the ball from distance and unleashed a thunderous strike. The ball clipped the underside of the bar and ricocheted off Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer’s back before bouncing over the line.
