Lamine Yamal silences critics in style with a match-winning performance vs Benfica | OneFootball

Lamine Yamal has been undoubtedly one of Barcelona’s best performers this season, playing a key role in the three-pronged offensive line that has terrorised opposition defences.

His ability to glide past defenders and carve open spaces has made him indispensable to Hansi Flick’s plans. Yet, for all the praise, there have been murmurs from critics about one supposed shortcoming – his goal-scoring record.

The last time Yamal found the back of the net was on February 6, in a Copa del Rey clash against Valencia.

Since then, while the forward has remained a key outlet in attack, questions have been asked about his ability to convert his brilliance into tangible numbers.

Yamal’s grand response

Yamal, though, was able to silence these critics with an astounding performance against SL Benfica that made many reminisce about Lionel Messi.

Yamal delivered a sizzling performance vs Benfica (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

On a night when Barcelona needed inspiration, Yamal delivered a performance that reminded everyone why he is one of football’s most prodigious talents.

The young prodigy assisted Raphinha’s opener with a moment of sheer genius, weaving past defenders in a dazzling sequence before setting up his teammate with an accurate ball. It was a move that evoked memories of Lionel Messi at his best.

But the real showstopper was his goal. Picking up the ball outside the box, he effortlessly beat Tomas Araújo before curling a stunning strike into the top corner. It was a goal of pure class, the kind that silences doubters in an instant.

Thanks to the performance against Benfica, Yamal became the youngest player in the history of the UEFA Champions League to score and assist in the same match.

But perhaps more importantly, it was a slap in the face to critics who have been questioning the forward’s goalscoring capabilities.