Vanessa 
Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal is making waves this season, outshining some of football’s biggest names in a newly released ranking of the world’s best all-around attackers.
The 16-year-old has delivered 12 goals and 17 assists in 37 appearances across all competitions, cementing his role as a key figure in Hansi Flick’s Barcelona. His dazzling performance in the recent UEFA Champions League victory over SL Benfica showcased his growing influence on the pitch.
Yamal Among the Best – Ahead of Football’s Biggest Stars
According to the latest rankings from the CIES Football Observatory, which evaluates attackers based on dribbling, playmaking, and finishing, Yamal is ranked second among the top 100 attacking players worldwide.
Bayern Munich’s Michael Olise leads the list with a score of 88.5, while Yamal follows closely at 87.7. Completing the top three is Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz, who earned an 85.0 rating.
Notably, Real Madrid star Vinícius Jr. sits in fourth place with 84.2, while former Barcelona winger Ousmane Dembélé, now thriving under Luis Enrique at PSG, is fifth with 83.6.
One of the biggest surprises is Kylian Mbappé’s placement. The French superstar, Real Madrid’s marquee signing for 2024, finds himself outside the top 10, ranking 11th with a score of 80.7.
Excelling in Dribbling and Playmaking
Yamal leads the top 10 in dribbling with a staggering 90.1 rating and boasts an equally impressive 90.4 in playmaking. While his finishing is slightly lower at 82.5, his overall impact puts him ahead of some of the sport’s elite attackers.
Meanwhile, Olise tops the list largely due to his near-perfect 99/100 playmaking score.
Barcelona’s Raphinha is the only other Blaugrana player to make the top 20, ranking 19th overall. The Brazilian boasts a strong finishing score of 85.1 but falls behind in dribbling, bringing his total rating to 79.5.
With his rapid rise, Yamal is proving he belongs among the best, perhaps even as the future face of Barcelona’s attack.
