At just 18 years old, Lamine Yamal is not only thrilling spectators on the field for FC Barcelona and Spain but also making headlines about his paycheck.
Speculated across the board to be one of the favorites to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, he has already signed a contract that places him on the list of the sport’s highest-paid teenagers.
A contract made for stardom
According to salary tracker site Capology and a The Athletic report, Yamal’s new Barcelona contract expires in 2031 and grants him a total of about €16 million gross annually in base wages. To put in context, that is approximately €320,000 a week.
Performance bonuses may add a significant amount to his earnings. Per Sport Bible media reports, if all appearance and performance bonuses kick in, Yamal may make up to 40 million before taxes per year.
Net worth at his 18 years
With exact figures hard to confirm, estimates put Yamal’s personal wealth at the seven-figure level, or US$5 to US$8 million, including earnings, bonus and pre-endorsement contracts. The Indonesian outlet Tempo recently referred to his wealth as “a seven-figure net worth at just 17,” published months ago when the player was still 17.
Endorsement revenue has not been made public yet, but advertising sponsors are already queuing up to cash in on his increasing international fame.
The human side of his wealth
For a young player still on his way to find his place on professional footabll, the sums are eye-watering. “It’s life-changing money, but also comes with huge pressure,” according to one Barcelona source, who refused to be named since they were not authorized to speak publicly. “The club sees him as the face of the future, that’s why the deal is so huge and so long.”.
These signings are not just designed to reward talent, but to get rid of interests from other clubs. Yamal’s contract apparently has a release clause so steep that it pretty much keeps him at Camp Nou for the rest of his life. According to beIN SPORTS and BBC, his release clause is of €1.000 million.
Rising expectations for a young player
Yamal’s success has turned him into sporting and financial phenomenon. His assists and goals for Barcelona, as well as remarkable performances for Spain, have drawn comparisons to greats who were not earning such wages at his age.
But with large paychecks comes a cost. Every game is analyzed and every slump exaggerated. “He’s still a teenager, yet already the world expects him to perform like a veteran,” said sports columnist Javier Morales.
For Yamal, it is the start of a career in which talent, pressure and money will always go together. Whether he is a Ballon d’Or winner in 2025 or not, his name is already on football’s rich list.
Read the full article here
