Yamal arrives at RAMS Park with 12 Champions League goals to his name and a specific milestone within range. The Barcelona forward sits one goal behind Mbappé’s mark of 13 Champions League goals before turning 20.

The 19-year-old has 12 goals and 11 assists in 34 appearances in the competition. His most recent came last month, in Barcelona’s opening league-phase fixture.

The Feyenoord free kick that reset the picture

Yamal’s 77th-minute free kick in the 5-1 win over Feyenoord at Camp Nou on 9 September moved him past Mbappé on a related measure. He is now the outright teenage leader for goal involvements in the Champions League, with 23 to Mbappé’s 20 by the time the Frenchman stopped qualifying.

He had already overtaken Mbappé’s goal count before age 19, with 11 to the Frenchman’s 10 at the same point. The 13-goal benchmark is the one still standing between them.

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A Ballon d’Or year and a tight window

The chase lines up with the 2026 Ballon d’Or ceremony at the London Palladium on 26 October, where Yamal is among the leading contenders after Barcelona’s La Liga title and Spain’s World Cup win.

Yamal has until his 20th birthday on 13 July 2027 to add goals that still count towards the teenage record. That means Barcelona’s remaining Champions League fixtures this season, and whatever reaches next season’s early rounds before his birthday.

Istanbul is Barcelona’s second league-phase fixture after the Feyenoord win. Victor Osimhen is back in contention after an adductor injury, though he came off the bench in Galatasaray’s last match and his place in the starting XI remains in doubt.

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