Lamine Yamal became the youngest Barcelona player to score a league hat-trick on Saturday, achieving the feat at 18 years and 230 days in a 4-1 win over Villarreal. The teenager's three goals, described as a 'work of art', drew praise from fans and his family alike.
Coach Hansi Flick had agreed with Yamal that he would be substituted after the team scored a third goal. When Pedri set up Yamal for his third, the board went up and the crowd of 44,256 rose in applause. Yamal later collected the match ball and gave it to his mother Sheila Ebana, saying he would get it signed first.
Yamal's father Mounir Nasraoui watched from home, celebrating on Instagram: 'Lamine Yamal, for good or bad. My son! God bless you.' The youngster's first goal saw him bend the ball into the far corner; his second involved lifting the ball over a defender before curling it in; the third came after a pass from Pedri left him one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Villarreal had threatened a comeback before Pedri's introduction, but Yamal's hat-trick sealed the win. The hat-trick is the youngest in La Liga since 1934, with only two older records standing. Spanish newspapers celebrated with front pages declaring 'The Lamin3 Show' and 'The Lamine Show'.
