“Lamine Yamal close to surpassing Cristiano Ronaldo in La Liga.”

Lamine Yamal is set to leave Cristiano Ronaldo behind in the La Liga title count – an absolutely surreal achievement for a 18-year-old. The Barcelona prodigy, who already has two Spanish championships to his name, has matched the legendary forward of Real Madrid, who won the league only twice in nine seasons at the club.

At 17 years old, Yamal secured his first La Liga title in a season where his direct contribution was minimal – just seven minutes in a match against Real Betis, during a 4-0 victory, in the 2022-23 season under Xavi Hernández. Despite being a mere symbolic participation, this brief moment allowed him to receive the champion’s medal, making him the fifth youngest player to debut in La Liga history, at 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days old. An impressive feat that also made him the youngest debutant for Barcelona in over a century.

In the following season, 2023-24, Real Madrid reclaimed the title, but Yamal emerged as one of the biggest stars of Barcelona under the leadership of Hansi Flick. The young talent shone brightly, especially in the final stretch of the championship, helping the Catalan club achieve a historic domestic treble and reach the semi-finals of the Champions League. This rise was further bolstered by his pivotal role in the Spanish national team that won Euro 2024.

This year, Yamal is breaking all personal records: he has already scored 15 goals and provided 11 assists, numbers that demonstrate his meteoric rise. Last Saturday, he was decisive in Barcelona’s victory over Espanyol, assisting Ferran Torres twice and scoring a goal in the 4-1 rout. With this performance, he practically ensured that Barcelona will retain the La Liga title, something Real Madrid has not achieved since the 2007-08 season.

After returning from the international break, Barcelona has secured victories against Atlético de Madrid and Espanyol, taking advantage of Real Madrid’s stumbles against Mallorca and Girona to open a nine-point lead at the top of the table, with only seven matches remaining. With the threat of a new El Clásico on the horizon—where the title could be sealed against their great rival—the question is no longer if, but when, Lamine Yamal will surpass Cristiano Ronaldo in Spanish league titles.

This scenario seems almost unbelievable considering that Yamal has yet to turn 19 and this is only his fourth season in La Liga. Cristiano Ronaldo, on the other hand, spent nine seasons at Real Madrid, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer with 311 goals in 292 league matches, but he only won two titles (2011-12, 2016-17). Although he added four Champions Leagues to his trophy cabinet, supremacy in the league was far from his dominance.

During the era of Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Barcelona won six La Liga titles, while Atlético de Madrid claimed one in the 2013-14 season, showcasing the fierce competitiveness of the Spanish league. It is important to remember that football is a team sport and that context plays a significant role in the analysis of individual achievements. However, the idea that a young talent like Yamal could surpass a legend like Ronaldo so early in his career is truly shocking and signals a new era in Spanish football.

This article first appeared on Apito Final.