On a night when European giants clashed under the lights at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal etched his name into Champions League history, inspiring Barcelona to a thrilling 3-3 draw against Inter Milan in the first leg of their semi-final showdown.

The game exploded into life immediately, with Inter Milan stunning the home fans just 53 seconds after kickoff. Marcus Thuram latched onto a cross and, with a backheel finish of sublime audacity, beat goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to give the visitors a dream start. The goal sent a clear signal that Inter had come to attack, and they didn’t stop there. In the 21st minute, Denzel Dumfries doubled the lead with a sensational volley from a corner, catching Barcelona’s defense completely off guard. The visiting supporters erupted in celebration, while Barça looked shell-shocked.

But the response from the Catalans was swift and spectacular. In the 24th minute, all eyes turned to Lamine Yamal, the teenage prodigy already being hailed as the next great hope of La Masia. Picking up the ball near the edge of the box, Yamal danced past two defenders, cut inside with incredible poise, and curled a beautiful left-footed strike into the far corner of the net. It was a goal of individual brilliance, and in doing so, Yamal became the youngest player ever to score in a Champions League semi-final. The stadium erupted, the momentum shifted, and Barcelona were back in the game.

Fueled by Yamal’s energy, Barça continued to press and were rewarded again before halftime. Ferran Torres rose highest to head home a Raphinha delivery in the 38th minute, leveling the score at 2-2 and igniting the belief that the game was theirs for the taking. The first half ended with both teams on equal footing, but the drama was far from over.

The second half began with Barcelona looking more composed, but it was Inter who struck first once again. In the 63rd minute, Dumfries completed his brace with a powerful header that restored the Italian side’s lead. Yet again, Barcelona answered immediately. Just two minutes later, Raphinha unleashed a rocket from outside the area that smashed the crossbar and ricocheted off Inter goalkeeper Yann Sommer into the net an own goal, but one that epitomized the chaos and quality of the match.

The closing stages were filled with near-misses and narrow escapes. Yamal came within inches of a second goal, rattling the crossbar once more. Inter had a goal disallowed for offside, and both sides could have stolen the win in the dying minutes. But in the end, the spoils were shared in one of the most entertaining Champions League semi-final first legs in recent memory.

For Barcelona, the night belonged to Lamine Yamal, who celebrated his 100th appearance for the club in style. His performance drew comparisons to Lionel Messi and not just because of his age or academy roots, but due to his vision, composure, and sheer genius on the ball. At just 17, Yamal isn’t just Barcelona’s future he’s already their present.

The 3-3 result sets the stage for a dramatic second leg at the San Siro, where both teams will have everything to play for. With the tie delicately poised and momentum swinging wildly, the return leg promises to be another night of Champions League magic.