Ronaldinho Gives His Verdict on Lamine Yamal Wearing the No. 10 Shirt at Barcelona

Barcelona’s most celebrated No. 10, Ronaldinho, has broken his silence on the teenager now wearing the jersey that once belonged to him and, later, to Lionel Messi. Speaking to Argentine daily Ole, the Brazilian icon offered a ringing endorsement of 16-year-old Lamine Yamal, who inherited the number this season and has already become a focal point for the Catalans.

“Without a doubt,” Ronaldinho said when asked if the shirt is in safe hands. “One of the best in the world, still very young, but already doing incredible things. It’s very well taken care of.”

The endorsement carries extra weight given the lineage of the jersey. After Ronaldinho, Messi took the No. 10 and used it to cement his status as the planet’s premier player during a trophy-laden spell at Camp Nou. Yamal, who has been repeatedly compared to Messi, is the next in line and has quickly justified the faith shown in him by coach Hansi Flick.

Ronaldinho also weighed in on the current side’s direction under the German tactician. “Without a doubt, they continue to be one of the strongest teams in Europe, and we’re always watching and hoping that Barça will do something beautiful,” he added.

Yamal’s latest standout performance came in a high-stakes victory away to Atlético Madrid, a result that leaves Barcelona in pole position in La Liga. Although the winger’s visible frustration at full-time was captured by television cameras, the win keeps the Blaugrana on course for domestic silverware and underlines the teenager’s growing influence on the team’s fortunes.