Lamine Yamal has been one of the biggest revelations for FC Barcelona this season. At just 17 years old, the winger has dazzled the football world with his fearlessness, dribbling skills, and one-on-one ability. And in his final LaLiga match of the season against Athletic Club at San Mamés, the young star has a very special goal: to break a record held by none other than his idol, Neymar.

Currently, Lamine has completed a total of 239 successful dribbles across all competitions, matching the figure achieved by the Brazilian star during the 2016/17 season — Neymar’s last with the Catalan side. In LaLiga alone, the academy product has 159 completed dribbles, making him the clear leader in the category, well ahead of Sevilla’s Dodi Lukébakio, who has 84.

According to Opta, the Barça youngster has attempted 448 dribbles this campaign, with a success rate of 53.3%. While he's still behind the best numbers posted by Lionel Messi — who had over 250 successful dribbles in three separate seasons, including a record 307 in 2014/15 — Neymar’s mark is within reach and would be a perfect finishing touch to a breakout year for the teenager.

Lamine Yamal’s brilliance isn’t only reflected in statistics, but also in his game-changing presence on the pitch. His ability to unbalance defenses down the wing has made him a key piece in Barcelona’s system, and he’s now set to play an important role for Spain in the upcoming Nations League.

Deschamps: “No one has been able to stop Lamine Yamal”

France manager Didier Deschamps didn’t hide his admiration for the young Spaniard ahead of the Nations League semifinal between France and Spain, scheduled for June 5.

“I haven’t seen any team that has really found a way to stop Lamine Yamal,” admitted the French coach. Nevertheless, he emphasized that Luis de la Fuente’s side is much more than just the Barça winger: “Spain is a very complete team, perhaps the best in the world right now.”

Deschamps also pointed out that many Spanish internationals will arrive at the match fresher, as Barcelona won’t be playing in the Champions League final — unlike several players from his own squad. “The variety and quality they have on the wings, with players like Yamal, make them extremely dangerous,” concluded the coach.