Lamine Yamal, two by two

Brace after brace. Lamine Yamal has started the season in red-hot form. And that certainly applies in front of goal, with six goals and three braces in the first five LaLiga games. The latest came in Sunday's meeting with Levante, when FC Barcelona won 4-2, with Lamine scoring twice and Xavi Espart and Karim Adeyemi also on target.

Matching Messi

Those three doubles have matched a feat that, in LaLiga in the 21st century, had previously been achieved only by Leo Messi. No other player for any team had scored three braces in the opening five league games of a season. Another milestone for Barça's current number 10.

The Argentinian did it in 2012/13, against Real Sociedad, Osasuna and Getafe. 13 years later, Lamine Yamal matched the record with two goals against Rayo Vallecano, Valencia and Levante.

The Barça winger already has seven goals this season (six in LaLiga and one in the Champions League). That's more than a goal per game. It puts him joint top of the Pichichi standings alongside Mbappé, Raphinha and Sergio Camello.

There can be no doubt that Lamine Yamal is playing a key role in FC Barcelona's historic start to the competitive season.