Who can stop him? Lamine Yamal breaks records for minutes played so far in 2025

One of the things that has made Lamine Yamal particularly striking is how, at just 17 years of age, he has been able to establish himself in the starting eleven of one of the best teams in the world, FC Barcelona, and one of the most 'top' national teams of today, Spain. A privilege that not many players his age can boast of, when most are still playing in youth categories or, with luck, are beginning to take their first steps in the first team.

A 2025 full of minutes for Lamine Yamal

That influence of Lamine Yamal and his establishment in elite football has also become evident in this year 2025. Even, according to the metrics of 'BeSoccer Pro', as of today the right winger from Rocafonda is positioned as the sixth player worldwide with the most minutes played, with a total of 2,330', including added time, distributed in the 26 matches he has played between Barcelona (24) and the Spanish national team (2) so far this year.

And yes, in this 2025 Lamine Yamal has played practically everything with club and national team. He only missed the first game of the year against UD Barbastro (0-4) for not being part of the squad due to an injury to the intertibio-peroneal ligament. Since then, he has chained an impressive streak of appearances, which began on January 8 with the semi-final match of the Spanish Super Cup against Athletic Club (0-2), and from there he has not stopped: he has accumulated the aforementioned 26 consecutive matches, all as a starter. He has been substituted in just 14 of them, and on seven occasions he came off after the 80th minute.

The '19' is far ahead of the rest of the young talents worldwide

As an interesting fact, at the level of minor players, Lamine Yamal surpasses his closest pursuers by a wide margin: the Palmeiras forward, Estevão Willian (1,641 minutes), and the Sporting CP player, Geovany Quenda (1,624'). An abysmal difference of 689 minutes with the first and 706 with the second.

At this point, it is clearer that Lamine Yamal is a highly influential element for both his club and his national team. However, it is still surprising that, at his young age, he adds that scandalous amount of minutes played, motivated by a calendar that gave no respite before and does not promise to give it soon, with matches practically every two or three days.

Is it time for a break for the '19' culé?

We will have to see at what point Hansi Flick finds the right opportunity to give some rest to a Lamine Yamal who, in this 2025, has eight goals and six assists. In that sense, it seems logical to think that the German coach could reserve him in the Barcelona match against Celta de Vigo (04/19) or RCD Mallorca (04/22), assessing the crazy calendar that is coming upon the Azulgrana team: a series of the UEFA Champions League against Inter Milan, the final of the Copa del Rey against Real Madrid and the Clásico against the same rival. All matches in which the presence of the '19' will be key for the success of Barcelona.