Lamine Yamal reacts after his hat-trick against Villarreal

Europe 01 March 2026 at 00:30

Aliou Toundé

News Editor

After netting the first hat-trick of his career with FC Barcelona against Villarreal, Lamine Yamal made an even bigger impression with his words.

At just 18 years old, the Spanish winger is refusing to get carried away after the match:

People want me to score 100 goals at 16. Of course, I'd like that too, but step by step. One goal, then two... The most important thing is to stay calm.

A mature statement, far removed from the euphoria of a first hat-trick. Yamal stresses the importance of patience and composure:

When I have the ball, I decide where to go. The most important thing is to help the team.

His three goals helped Barça strengthen their lead at the top of La Liga, ahead of Real Madrid. But the young talent prefers to talk about the team rather than personal records. Already being compared to Lionel Messi, Yamal remains grounded.