Barcelona’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal continues to captivate the soccer world with his brilliance, delivering another electrifying performance in the Champions League on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old starred in Barcelona’s 3–1 victory over Benfica in the second leg of their last-16 clash, securing a 4–1 aggregate win for the Spanish giants.
Yamal was the standout performer once again, showcasing his immense talent with a stunning assist for Barça’s opener. Picking up the ball near the halfway line, he drove fearlessly at the Benfica defense, using dazzling footwork to outmaneuver two defenders before delivering a pinpoint pass to Raphinha at the back post for the 11th-minute lead.
After the match, Yamal admitted he initially intended to shoot before unintentionally setting up his teammate, but his buildup play was nothing short of extraordinary.
Though Nicolás Otamendi’s header briefly equalized the match, Yamal produced another moment of brilliance in the 27th minute, restoring Barcelona’s advantage in style.
Yamal also etched his name into the history books, becoming the youngest player ever to score and assist in a Champions League match, according to UEFA.
“His goals simply emphasize what he is – a footballer of tremendous quality,” said Raphinha, who netted twice on Tuesday, praising his young teammate.
With their sights set on European glory, Barça—currently leading La Liga—will face either Lille or Borussia Dortmund in the quarterfinals.
PSG Stuns Liverpool
Meanwhile, in another thrilling Champions League showdown, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) knocked Liverpool out in a dramatic penalty shootout, capping off what the club described as a “perfect evening.”
Trailing 1-0 after the first leg, PSG knew it needed something special at Anfield—and delivered. Ousmane Dembélé’s early goal leveled the aggregate score before goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma emerged as the hero, denying both Darwin Núñez and Curtis Jones in the shootout.
“It’s a magnificent evening for us, for the club, for its history,” PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi said. “Playing at Anfield is never easy, but this was a perfect night.”
PSG, still chasing its first Champions League title, looked dangerous across both legs and fully deserved the victory. In fact, the French side was unfortunate to lose the first leg after dominating much of the match.
For Liverpool, widely regarded as one of the favorites to win this year’s competition, the defeat was a humbling setback amid a strong Premier League campaign.
Both Curtis Jones and Darwin Núñez—who has faced public criticism from manager Arne Slot in recent weeks—were visibly devastated after the shootout loss.
Despite the disappointment, Slot found positives in what was an exhilarating contest filled with moments of brilliance from both sides.
“It was the best game of football I was ever involved in,” the Dutch manager said. “I don’t have the history of Liverpool as a manager, but this was two teams playing at an incredible level, with incredible intensity.
“I think every fan around the world was hoping this game would never end, because it was just incredible.”
PSG will now take on either Club Brugge or Aston Villa in the quarterfinals.
