Another layer has been added to Lamine Yamal’s ever-expanding legacy at Barcelona. At just 17 years old, the winger from La Masia has now matched Cristiano Ronaldo’s La Liga title tally, a feat few could have imagined when he made his professional debut just two years ago.
On Thursday evening, Barcelona secured the 2024-25 La Liga title—their 28th overall—with a confident 2-0 victory over local rivals Espanyol. The result not only sealed the league but also completed a historic domestic treble for Hansi Flick’s side. And central to that success was the electric form of their teenage star.
Yamal contributed a goal and an assist in that decisive win, marking yet another night where he rose to the occasion. Thus, the Spanish teenager now has two La Liga titles—just like Cristiano Ronaldo. But there’s a remarkable twist to this comparison.
Record-matching feat—And a secret evealed
While Ronaldo took nine seasons in Spain to collect two La Liga titles, Yamal has done it in just three—and more astonishingly, before even reaching adulthood.
Yamal’s first title came during the 2022-23 season, when he made a solitary appearance lasting only seven minutes. That was enough to earn a winner’s medal in Barcelona’s dominant league triumph. His breakthrough year came in 2023-24, where he made 50 appearances across all competitions and notched 16 goal contributions, even though Barça finished behind Real Madrid.
But this season, under new manager Hansi Flick, the club has exploded back into dominance. Barcelona not only reclaimed the league but also lifted the Spanish Super Cup and the Copa del Rey, completing their ninth domestic double and first treble since 2018.
Yamal, playing with maturity beyond his years, has been at the center of it all. He’s registered 8 goals and 15 assists in La Liga, averaging a direct contribution every 116 minutes.
Yamal vs. Ronaldo: Numbers behind the headlines
A statistical comparison paints an even sharper picture:
Lamine Yamal (2 La Liga titles):
Seasons: 3Appearances: 71Goals: 13Assists: 22Goal contributions: 35Minutes per goal contribution: 139.6
Cristiano Ronaldo (2 La Liga titles):
Seasons: 8Appearances: 265Goals: 285Assists: 82Goal contributions: 367Minutes per goal contribution: 62.2
Of course, Ronaldo’s numbers are otherworldly in their own right. His goal-scoring exploits at Real Madrid redefined modern forward play. But it’s telling that despite all that brilliance, La Liga was a tough battleground for him—mostly dominated by a Lionel Messi-led Barcelona.
Yamal’s early advantage is also historical. He becomes the first player to win two La Liga titles before turning 18. Add to that his Spanish Super Cup, Copa del Rey, UEFA Euro 2024 title, and individual accolades like the Best Young Player award at the Euros and the Kopa Trophy, and you see a player amassing not just trophies, but gravitas.
