Barcelona’s young star, Lamine Yamal, has shared his delight following a rough stretch this season, stating that he is “happy again” after achieving a historic feat on the field.

The 18-year-old showcased his skills at Spotify Camp Nou last Saturday by scoring his first hat trick in a decisive 4-1 win over Villarreal. This performance set a record for the youngest player to score a hat trick in La Liga during the 21st century at just 18 years and 230 days old, also making him the youngest since 1967.

Against Villarreal, Yamal netted twice before halftime and once in the second half, bringing his season total to 18 goals across 34 matches, matching last season’s tally despite having played 21 fewer matches.

Yamal recounted his recent struggles in an interview with Movistar, revealing, “I didn’t feel great earlier this season; there was the [groin] issue, and overall, I wasn’t happy. It was a combination of many factors. But now, I’m smiling and enjoying my time on the pitch again.”

Hansi Flick, the head coach of Barcelona, provided insights into Yamal’s prior frustrations, attributing part of it to heightened defensive strategies against him as he mentioned, “Sometimes opponents double or triple mark him.” He expressed confidence that Yamal’s recent performance would help boost his confidence moving forward.

Following this victory, Barcelona is now four points ahead of Real Madrid in the league standings but faces a significant challenge in the Copa del Rey, needing to overcome a 4-0 deficit against Atletico Madrid in the semi-finals. Flick emphasized the importance of having a confident Yamal in their upcoming matches.