The Champions League Team of the Week has been officially announced, and one decision has already sparked plenty of debate among football fans: Lamine Yamal has been left out.

The Barcelona wonderkid delivered an outstanding performance in his side’s emphatic Champions League victory over Feyenoord, contributing directly to the result with a goal and two assists. Yet, despite his impressive numbers and influence throughout the match, Yamal did not make the official Team of the Week.

The omission is particularly surprising considering just how influential the young winger was during Barcelona’s dominant display.

Yamal Shines in Barcelona’s Champions League Victory

Barcelona produced an impressive attacking performance against Feyenoord, securing a convincing 5–1 victory. Yamal was one of the standout players on the pitch and played a major role in helping Barcelona dismantle their opponents.

The teenager finished the game with one goal and two assists, underlining his importance in the final third. His creativity, movement and ability to beat defenders made him a constant threat throughout the match.

Yamal also completed seven successful dribbles, demonstrating once again why he is regarded as one of the most exciting young talents in world football. His ability to take on defenders and create opportunities from seemingly difficult situations has become one of the defining features of his game.

He also recorded four key passes, showing that his contribution went far beyond simply scoring or assisting.

With those statistics, many supporters expected Yamal to be a straightforward selection for the Champions League Team of the Week.

Why Was Yamal Left Out?

The main argument against Yamal’s inclusion is the quality of competition for places.

The Champions League regularly produces outstanding individual performances, particularly from attacking players. A Team of the Week selection is therefore not necessarily a reflection of whether a player performed well. Instead, it is a comparison between several players who may have delivered exceptional displays on the same matchday.

In Barcelona’s case, Yamal was not the only player to impress.

Raphinha was also outstanding, scoring twice and producing a strong all-round performance. The Brazilian was subsequently recognised as UEFA’s Player of the Match.

That makes Raphinha’s inclusion understandable. However, it still raises the question of whether there was room for both Barcelona attackers.

Considering Yamal’s contribution of a goal, two assists and seven successful dribbles, there is a strong argument that he deserved recognition alongside his teammate.

Barcelona’s Attacking Options Continue to Impress

The performances of Yamal and Raphinha highlight just how dangerous Barcelona can be when their attacking players are operating at their best.

Yamal has developed into one of the club’s most important attacking outlets despite his young age. His confidence in one-on-one situations, close control and creativity make him difficult for defenders to contain.

What makes his latest performance particularly impressive is the variety of his contribution. He wasn’t simply completing dribbles or creating chances without end product. He combined his individual ability with tangible numbers on the scoresheet.

A goal and two assists in a Champions League match is an exceptional return for any player.

For a teenager, it is even more remarkable.

Is the Team of the Week Selection Fair?

Ultimately, Team of the Week selections are subjective.

Different selection panels may place greater emphasis on goals, assists, overall influence, defensive contributions, chance creation or the importance of a player’s performance to the final result.

There is no doubt that several players across the Champions League matchday produced excellent performances. However, Yamal’s statistics make his omission difficult to ignore.

If the selection is based primarily on the most influential individual performances, then the Barcelona winger has a compelling case.

At the very least, his absence is likely to generate discussion among Barcelona supporters and football fans who watched his performance.

Yamal’s Stock Continues to Rise

Perhaps the most important takeaway is that Yamal’s omission from one Team of the Week does little to diminish his growing reputation.

The Barcelona star continues to produce performances that attract attention on Europe’s biggest stage. His ability to influence Champions League matches at such a young age is a clear indication of his extraordinary potential.

The fact that fans are debating his omission after a performance featuring a goal, two assists and seven successful dribbles says plenty about the standards he has already established.

For Barcelona, having players such as Yamal and Raphinha capable of producing match-winning performances is a major advantage.

For Yamal himself, the focus will likely remain on continuing to perform rather than individual awards.

Verdict

Leaving Lamine Yamal out of the Champions League Team of the Week is certainly debatable.

Raphinha’s inclusion is fully understandable after his two-goal performance and Player of the Match recognition. But Yamal’s own contribution was difficult to overlook.

One goal, two assists, seven successful dribbles and four key passes represent an outstanding Champions League performance.

Whether fans believe he deserved a place in the XI will ultimately come down to personal opinion, but one thing is becoming increasingly clear: Lamine Yamal is already performing at a level where his omission from major Champions League selections is considered newsworthy.

And at just 19 years old, that is perhaps the most impressive part of all.