Erling Haaland was left stunned by Lamine Yamal’s outrageous Champions League showing as he inspired Barcelona’s first-half comeback against Inter Milan.
Inter got off to a lightning-fast start, with Marcus Thuram scoring in the opening minute through a brilliant flicked finish. Denzel Dumfries then extended their lead in the 21st minute, putting the Italian side firmly in control.
However, their two-goal cushion was short-lived. Just three minutes later, Lamine Yamal pulled one back for Barcelona with a dazzling solo effort. Gliding past Henrikh Mkhitaryan, the 17-year-old burst into the box and curled a sublime strike into the net—reminiscent of vintage Lionel Messi.
Yamal nearly equalized moments later, creating a chance out of thin air. After beating Federico Dimarco with ease, he cut inside and unleashed a left-footed shot that crashed against the crossbar.
Watching in awe, Manchester City striker Erling Haaland couldn’t hide his admiration. He shared an image of Yamal in action on social media with the caption: “This guy is incredible.”
During TNT Sports’ live commentary, Rio Ferdinand was full of praise for Lamine Yamal, saying: “Lamine Yamal’s putting on a clinic. If Robert Lewandowski were on the pitch, he’d be finishing two or three of those chances.”
Stephen Warnock also commended the 17-year-old’s intelligence on the ball, emphasizing his exceptional decision-making: “Inter have been trying to double up on him, but the space they’re giving him is growing. If you get too close, he glides past you. But when you drop off, he has all the time in the world to either run at you or pick out a pass — and he makes the right choice almost every time.”
Yamal, who already turned heads with Spain at Euro 2024, continues to build on an extraordinary breakout season, further cementing his status as one of world football’s brightest young stars.
