Who is Spain’s biggest star? Most people would say Lamine Yamal. It is around him that Spain is dreaming of winning the World Cup again for the first time since 2010. A big star, a great footballer who plays in attack — such players are usually seen wearing the No. 10 jersey.
But even though he is Spain’s biggest football star, Yamal will not be wearing the No. 10 jersey at this World Cup. Although he wears No. 10 for Barcelona, the reason he does not get the famous number for the national team lies in a years-old Spanish football tradition.
Under the team’s rule, the more international match experience a player has, the higher his priority in choosing a jersey number. The rule is followed mainly to honor experienced players.
That is why Spain’s No. 10 jersey at this World Cup goes to Dani Olmo. Olmo, who has played 50 matches for Spain, has been wearing the No. 10 jersey since before Yamal’s debut. Yamal, who made his debut in 2023, has 25 international matches to his name.
Olmo is in fact Yamal’s teammate at Barcelona, where it is Yamal who wears the No. 10 jersey. After Messi’s departure in 2021, the jersey was first given to Ansu Fati. But, with injuries and the weight of expectation, he could not establish himself at Barca.
The No. 10 jersey was later given to Yamal. Since donning the historic jersey, Yamal has performed superbly. He had the best season of his career this year, with 24 goals and 17 assists in 45 matches. Yet on his World Cup debut, Yamal is not getting the No. 10 jersey.
The Spanish media say there is no discontent within the team over the jersey number. The young Yamal understands the team’s rules very well, and he has a good relationship with his Barcelona teammate Olmo.
This photo was posted by Yamal. Instagram
When the team’s biggest star wears the No. 10 jersey, there is potential for commercial advantage. But Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is prioritizing honoring the team’s experienced players and maintaining discipline over commercial gain.
For this World Cup, Yamal has chosen No. 19 as his new jersey number. The 18-year-old Yamal recently surprised everyone by unveiling his World Cup jersey. On social media, Yamal shared a collage that also includes Messi’s jersey.
One side of the picture shows the jersey from Messi’s World Cup debut for Argentina in 2006, and the other shows Yamal’s jersey for this World Cup. Since he is not getting the No. 10 jersey, Yamal will play in the debut World Cup jersey number of his childhood hero.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report