Once again, the Champions League dealt a tremendously cruel blow to FC Barcelona, who came up just short of reaching a Champions League final after 10 long years. That said, there’s little blame to place on a team that, after coming back from a 2-0 deficit, kept crashing again and again into the wall built by Yann Sommer in Inter Milan’s goal. Especially to stop the constant attacks from a relentless Lamine Yamal, who, despite the disappointment of being eliminated, made an important promise to the fans.

Lamine Yamal’s Message After the Champions League Defeat

In case anyone had any doubts, these Champions League semifinals have confirmed Lamine Yamal’s rise. In the first leg, he was the player who brought Barcelona back to life, delivering one of the most memorable performances in recent Champions League history. Last night, although he didn’t score or assist, he still delivered a legendary performance that has cemented his place—if it wasn’t already—as one of the best players in the world.

He’s only 17 years old, and this was his first Champions League semifinal. But the composure he shows on the field proves that his maturity goes far beyond his age. He has the presence of a leader, and he showed it with the promise he made after the game: “We won’t stop until we put this club where it belongs—at the top. I will keep my promise and bring it back to Barcelona. We won’t stop until we make it happen. But Sunday is another final, and we all need to be united.”

Barcelona Already Looking Ahead to Real Madrid

Without a doubt, Barcelona will be much closer to lifting the Champions League again if Lamine Yamal continues to progress on the path he’s on. But, as he himself said in his message to the fans, there’s no time to dwell on the past because next Sunday they face a crucial match against Real Madrid that could end up deciding the LaLiga title race.

Surely, the mood in the locker room and among the Barcelona fans is one of disappointment, as they truly believed they could finally reclaim their long-awaited Champions League title that has eluded them for years. But if everyone looks back and mentally rewinds to the beginning of the season, no one would have bet on Barcelona reaching this stage. What’s clear is that, with players like Lamine Yamal, the future looks bright for Barcelona. He has a mission to accomplish—and he won’t rest until it’s done.