15-Year-Old FC Barcelona Prodigy Set To Debut Against Atletico Madrid And Smash 100-Year Record

15-year-old FC Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal is set to make a record-breaking senior debut for the club after being called up to Xavi Hernandez’s first team squad to face Atletico Madrid on Sunday.

Yamal, who has been on La Masia’s books since the age of 7 and hails from the dormitory town of Mataro some 30 kilometers east of Barcelona city center, has trained with Xavi’s men at intermittent periods this term.

Two weeks ago, it was reported by AS that he would make the cut for Xavi’s squad to face Girona. Contrary to reports, however, Yamal was overlooked by the head coach for the 0-0 draw where Barca failed to take advantage of the chance to go 15 points clear over bitter rivals Real Madrid at the La Liga summit.

A fortnight later, however, with Barca still struggling to score goals following another stalemate away at Getafe, Yamal has been picked to take on the top form team across Europe’s five big leagues in Atletico Madrid alongside previously injured stars Pedri and Frenkie de Jong.

Even if he doesn’t get a run out in the game of the weekend in Spain, Yamal has still made history by being the youngest ever player to be called up to a Barca first team squad.

Should he feature at any point, though, he would also smash the club’s record for the youngest ever senior appearance maker which has been held by Armand Martinez Sagi since April 2, 1922.

Martinez Sagi made his debut aged 15 years, 11 months and five days in a 1-1 draw against Real Gijon, but Yamal doesn’t turn 16 until July 13 and would overtake him by some distance.

Yamal wouldn’t hold the record for the youngest appearance maker in the Spanish top flight, however, which was last made by Luka Romero far more recently in June 24, 2020.

On this date, Romero, who is now at Lazio, debuted for Mallorca at 15 years and 219 days old and would still pip Yamal by a few months.

As his selection shows, Yamal is highly thought of at Barca who are trying to tie the youngster down to a new contract with a €1 billion ($1.01 billion) release clause.