Barcelona gave birth to one of the most iconic trios in world football: MSN, Messi, Suarez and Neymar. The frontline terrorized defenses and scored goals for fun. It wasn’t just on the pitch but also the off field camaraderie the trio shared.
The bond was evident and it almost seemed as if the three were inseparable—they shared great chemistry, trust and mutual respect. Unfortunately for Barca fans they saw the trio break when PSG swooped in for a record breaking transfer fee to sign Neymar. Since then Barcelona’s attacking front has never been the same.
But after years of struggling, this season under Hansi Flick, the club has seen a resurrection, a fresh new look and results that make fans remember the Barca of old—tearing up it’s rivals on a regular basis.
This new lineup filled with youth has given rise to a duo that reminds the world of Messi and Neymar- we’re talking about the bromance between Brazilian winger Raphinha and Spanish wonderkid Lamine Yamal.
Raphinha has found immense success so far this season in a more free moving #10 role under Hansi Flick. He seems to be the focal point of Barcelona’s attack, and the stats say so as well. He has 12 goals and 10 assists in just 16 games.
His partner in crime, Lamine Yamal starts on the right wing and has been fantastic this season for Barcelona, the 17 year old keeps getting better with every game he plays. Yamal has scored 6 and assisted 8 in 16 games this season.
Not long ago was Raphinha on the fringes of the Barca squad under Xavi and the man set to take his place was Lamine Yamal, but the Brazilian instead of being frustrated over a 17 year old taking his spot adapted and what we’ve seen since then is a duo grow.
The off-field brotherly love between the two has been seen on multiple occasions, and with a 10 year age gap between the two it for sure feels like a elder brother-younger brother relationship. Raphinha recently bought Lamine Yamal a custom gold IPhone that has the youngsters jersey number, 19, on the back. Yamal instantly hugs Raphinha upon receiving the gift.
The two often post each other on their Instagram stories, highlighting the bond they share. Raphinha was seen dancing on Lamine’s Insta and Yamal has also been seen sporting Raphinha’s #11 Brazil jersey online.
The two have also shared high praise for each other. When asked about Lamine Yamal, he had this to say: “I see him more like Neymar – the way he dribbles, how quickly he thinks on his feet. Just when you think you can take the ball from him, he pulls off something you’ve never seen before.”
Previously, Raphinha spoke about the sense of competition within the team, expressing that it’s an honor to compete with Lamine. He emphasized the importance of healthy competition, especially in a club like Barcelona.
Lamine has also dropped comments under Raphinha’s Instagram posts, letting him know that he’s unstoppable—a statement that’s pretty much a fact this season. There’s no denying that Raphinha’s influence is rubbing off on Yamal, both on and off the pitch. A recent pre-match tunnel photo even shows Yamal sporting sunglasses, echoing Raphinha’s style.
Raphinha’s protective, older-brother instincts recently came to the fore during Barcelona’s match against Red Star Belgrade. When a Red Star player gave Lamine Yamal a shove, Raphinha was the first to rush to his defense, charging across the pitch from the opposite flank to de-escalate the situation and stand by his young teammate.
It’s clear the bond between them goes beyond football—whether it’s grown through Barcelona’s journey under Hansi Flick or has been building since Yamal’s arrival on the big stage. For Barca fans, the hope is that their connection not only fuels great performances but also reflects the genuine brotherly camaraderie they share.