Lamine Yamal sends bold message to Ronaldo and Mbappé after scoring in El Clásico

In one of the most dramatic El Clásico encounters in recent memory, Barcelona ’s 17-year-old sensation, Lamine Yamal , stole the show with an incredible goal and an even bolder celebration that took aim at two of the game’s biggest stars, Cristiano Ronaldo and Kylian Mbappé .

The match, which saw Barcelona come from two goals down to secure a 4-3 victory over Real Madrid , featured Yamal’s stunning equalizer in the 32nd minute. His left-footed curling shot from just inside the penalty area left Real Madrid’s goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois rooted to the spot, placing the ball neatly in the far corner of the net.

A familiar celebration that caught everyone’s attention

But it wasn’t just the goal that made waves. After finding the back of the net, Yamal celebrated in style, mocking two iconic players with a tribute to their signature moves. He combined Cristiano Ronaldo ’s famous “calma” celebration with Kylian Mbappé’s signature arms-folded pose, a playful taunt that had social media buzzing.

Ronaldo famously performed the "calma" celebration after scoring the match-winning goal in a tense El Clásico at the Camp Nou back in the 2011-12 season, a goal that almost sealed Real Madrid’s La Liga title . By mimicking the celebration, Yamal seemed to send a message to both Ronaldo and Mbappé, all while putting his own stamp on a high-pressure match.

A historic performance

Yamal’s strike against Madrid was more than just a moment of brilliance; it was part of a breakout season for the young talent. With his goal on Sunday, he has now scored three goals and assisted two in just four appearances against Real Madrid this season. His contribution has been key in Barcelona’s resurgence this year, and the match saw his overall tally for the season climb to 40 goal contributions, with 16 goals and 24 assists.

This performance comes at a crucial time, with Barcelona’s La Liga title hopes looking brighter than ever. With the win against Madrid, the Blaugrana are now in a strong position to clinch the title, leading their rivals by eight points with just three games remaining.

Comparisons to Ronaldo and Messi: Is Yamal ahead of them at this age?

The comparisons to two of the game’s greatest players are already rolling in. Footballing legend Rio Ferdinand, who played alongside Ronaldo for many years at Manchester United, believes Yamal is already ahead of both Ronaldo and Messi at this stage in his career.

Ferdinand shared his thoughts on TNT Sports :
“It’s just ridiculous what he’s done. His ability to take people on, and every part of his left foot was used in that game. He’s an artist. At this age, he’s ahead of Cristiano, he’s ahead of Messi. His stats alone, he’s had 100 appearances at 17! These guys were nowhere near that, and he’s dominating games, defining games."

Ferdinand's praise is a testament to how quickly Yamal has adapted to the highest level of football, with many now tipping him to become one of the greatest players of his generation.

Barcelona’s La Liga dominance

Barcelona’s 4-3 victory over Real Madrid has all but secured their 28th La Liga title in history, with just a few games left in the season. A win against city rivals Espanyol in the upcoming Catalan derby on May 15 would confirm their domestic triumph, and with the way Yamal has been playing, it looks as though Barcelona will go into the final stretch of the season with all the momentum.

As for Yamal, his next challenge will be leading Barcelona as they look to secure their La Liga title and continue their dominance in Spanish football. The future is certainly looking bright for the teenage star, and this latest performance only adds to his growing reputation.