Yamal explains Henry's absurd dribbling at normal speed: He can't be 19 years old

No, Lamine Yamal can't really be just 19 years old. And this is not just because we've seen him playing at a high level for a long time, having debuted in La Liga at the age of 15 and in the Champions League at the age of 16, but for the maturity he displays with incredible consistency.

A maturity that is not only technical – we are talking about an extraordinary phenomenon, marking an era – but also tactical, in the ability to find the right spaces to score and provide assists. Finally, it is also linked to a deep knowledge of the game in all its aspects, including knowing the opponents.

This intelligence was displayed in all its splendor during a conversation with Thierry Henry on CBS television screens, after the end of the Champions League match, won by a landslide at Galatasaray. A match in which Yamal did not score, but gave a spectacle, winning the award for the best player of the match.

The Moroccan-Guinean footballer took the stage at the start of the second half, when within three minutes he first sent a ball to the head of Fermin Lopez and then another to the feet of Gordon, both with the message "score". Flick's team took a 3-1 lead, after Cancelo had equalized the Turks' initial advantage with Batrakov, and then sealed everything with Adeyemi's fourth goal.

Yamal's rabona dribble was no coincidence: here's the explanation

Yamal's second assist for Gordon was preceded by a rabona dribble, which the author of this article had to watch several times to understand exactly what the Barcelona player had done. At normal speed, the move seemed like magic that was not immediately understood. Later, Yamal revealed the secret of that moment of genius, when Henry asked him about the reason for that move. Lamine's explanation, given confidently and without hesitation, showed that he not only plays football, but also studies it. His move was not accidental, but a solution found on the basis of the opponents' defensive tactics.

“I’ve noticed lately that defenders often drop to the ground when I get to the end line,” Yamal explained, referring to the tendency of opponents to slide down to block a low cross, believing that he will immediately send the ball into the box. “So I saw an opportunity and thought I could take advantage of it. It’s a more elegant move and it’s worked well for me, so I’m very happy.” Rabona thus became a way to cleverly beat an opponent – ​​in this case, Turkish international Eren Elmali – who was waiting for another move. “I always try to use feints to create space,” Yamal added, addressing Henry. “You know very well that defenders always try to close you in from all sides and any feint that creates space is a lifesaver.”

Although crucial to the result in Barcelona's favour, just two assists only show a fraction of Lamine's dominant performance. The 19-year-old - yes, really - created six chances, the most of any Barcelona player, lighting up Istanbul with a performance reminiscent of a Ballon d'Or winner. If not this year, it will be in the years to come.