Lamine Yamal after first career hat trick: I'm 'happy' again

Barcelona prodigy Lamine Yamal says the joy has returned to his game after he struck the first hat trick of his professional career, ending a spell in which he admits he “has not felt good this season.”

The 16-year-old forward, who has been heralded as one of European football’s brightest talents, revealed that personal satisfaction had been missing during the early months of the current campaign. Speaking after his milestone performance, Yamal told reporters that the three-goal flourish had restored his enthusiasm for the sport.

“I haven’t felt good this season,” Yamal said. “But tonight I’m enjoying football again. I’m happy.”

The treble marked a turning point for the teenager, whose early-season form had been scrutinised amid heightened expectations. While the club did not disclose the opponent or competition in which the feat occurred, Yamal’s emotional response underscored the significance of the moment for both player and supporters.

His rekindled happiness will come as a relief to coaches and fans who have pinned long-term hopes on his rapid development. With confidence renewed, Yamal now appears poised to build on the breakthrough display and recapture the spark that made him a household name in Catalonia.