Lamine Yamal capped a memorable season for Barcelona by scoring on the opening day and later leading the team to their third La Liga title in 2025-26. The 18-year-old, handed the iconic No. 10 shirt previously worn by legends such as Lionel Messi and Diego Maradona, netted the winner against Mallorca in the final minute of the first game. Barcelona wrapped up the championship with a 2-0 victory over Real Madrid in week 35, the first time a clásico had decided the title in 94 years. The win came after a dressing-room fight between Madrid's Fede Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni left the vice-captain hospitalised with craniofacial trauma.
Barcelona's season was not without challenges. Coach Hansi Flick, whose father died on the morning the league was secured, warned earlier in the campaign that 'ego kills success' after a defeat to Sevilla in October. At that point, Real Madrid led by five points, with Jude Bellingham dismissing Lamine Yamal's talk as 'cheap' and Dani Carvajal mocking the teenager. However, Madrid's form collapsed under coach Xabi Alonso, who was sacked after a Super Cup loss to Barcelona. His replacement, Álvaro Arbeloa, failed to steady the ship, and Madrid finished the season empty-handed. Kylian Mbappé left the club for Sicily, posting 'Let's go Madrid!' as his former side trailed 2-0 in the decisive clásico.
Barcelona's victory parade saw Lamine Yamal display a Palestine flag, a decision Flick supported, saying the 18-year-old was old enough to make his own choices. The team won all their home games across three different stadiums and secured the title with seven games to spare after a win over Espanyol. Flick, emotional after the title win, said he had never felt so much love. Meanwhile, Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez held an incoherent press conference, blaming the ABC newspaper for the club's problems and cancelling his subscription.
