Lamine Yamal has shared that he hasn’t felt his best this season, but he is now rediscovering his love for football following his first career hat trick in Barcelona‘s 4-1 victory over Villarreal in La Liga on Saturday.
Yamal scored two goals in the first half at Spotify Camp Nou and added another after halftime, making him the first 18-year-old to score a hat trick in Spain’s top division since 1967.
However, in his post-match comments, Yamal acknowledged that he had faced challenges throughout the current season, although he feels more positive as the season progresses. “I didn’t feel great [earlier this season],” Yamal said to Movistar. “I had a groin issue and overall, I wasn’t happy. It was a combination of many factors, and it was evident.”
“Fortunately, I’ve felt much better over the past week. I’m smiling on the pitch now, which wasn’t the case for a while, and it feels great to be happy again while playing,” he added.
Despite his difficulties, Yamal remains one of Barça’s standout players this season, and after Saturday’s match, he leads the team with 18 goals in 34 appearances across all competitions. This tally matches his total from last season, achieved in 21 fewer matches.
Historically, only two players have scored a hat trick at a younger age, going back nearly a century: José Iraragorri at 17 years and 337 days in 1930, and Pablo Pombo at 18 years and 200 days in 1934.
“I’m consistently scoring more goals,” he noted. “At 16, people expect you to net 100 goals right away, which can be challenging. … I want to score more as well, but it’s not always feasible.”
When addressing the challenges that impacted Yamal this season, Barça coach Hansi Flick highlighted a shift in how defenses approach him. “Opponents sometimes mark him with two or three players,” Flick explained. “You could sense he lacked confidence at times in one-on-one situations.”
“I’m thrilled for him today; this performance should boost his confidence. When he enjoys playing, it’s beneficial for both him and the team,” Flick added.
Yamal’s opening goal came after an assist from Fermín López, while his second was a stunning strike after evading two Villarreal defenders. Pape Geuye brought Villarreal back into contention before Yamal quickly restored Barça’s two-goal lead, with substitute Robert Lewandowski concluding the scoring later on.
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This victory puts Barça four points ahead of Real Madrid, who are set to face Getafe on Monday. The Catalan club now shifts its focus to the Copa del Rey, where they will host Atlético Madrid in the second leg of their semifinal. After losing the first leg 4-0, Barça has a daunting task ahead, but Flick believes that with Yamal in this form, anything is possible.
“I think everyone witnessed his performance today,” he stated. “His first goal helped him find his footing in the game, and what followed was exceptional. Lamine at this level is incredible for us. We need him to maintain this form on Tuesday. That’s what I want to see.”