Lamine Yamal once again made his mark on a grand stage. In his 100th appearance for FC Barcelona, the young prodigy not only scored a stunning goal but also played a key role in helping his team react in a high-voltage clash against Inter Milan, in the first leg of the Champions League semifinals. His brilliant performance didn’t just thrill the crowd—it also caught the attention of a global star: Erling Haaland.

The Manchester City striker, known for being reserved on social media, surprised fans by sharing a Snapchat story with a picture of Lamine and the caption: “This kid is incredible.” The post went viral instantly, sparking a wave of reactions from fans and media alike, as it’s rare to see the Norwegian publicly praise other players.

A wild first half at the Olympic Stadium

The match started in devastating fashion for the Blaugrana. Just 30 seconds in, Marcus Thuram stunned the crowd with a spectacular backheel finish that left Wojciech Szczęsny with no chance. The blow was repeated in the 21st minute when Denzel Dumfries scored an acrobatic bicycle kick from a corner to make it 0–2 for Simone Inzaghi’s side.

However, Barça didn’t back down. In the 24th minute, Lamine Yamal produced a moment of brilliance, beating Yann Sommer with a powerful left-footed strike after a superb solo run, reigniting hope for Hansi Flick’s team. Later, in the 38th minute, Ferran Torres brought things level with a goal from a Raphinha header, making it 2–2 before halftime.

Toward the end of the first half, Jules Koundé was forced off due to injury and replaced by Eric García. There was also concern on the Inter bench as Lautaro Martínez had to receive medical attention and is doubtful for the second half.

Lamine keeps rising

With performances like this, Lamine Yamal continues to prove that his rise to the elite is no coincidence. At just 17 years old, he’s already leading Barcelona's attack and earning praise from football greats like Haaland. For anyone who doubted his importance to the team, this match confirms that both the future—and the present—of the club are in his hands.