'Yamal will renew contract with Barcelona'

Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal will extend his contract with the LaLiga club beyond 2026, his agent Jorge Mendes said on Wednesday.

The 17-year-old Spain international, who won the 2024 Golden Boy award to cap off a year in which he helped his country win the European Championship, has scored 11 goals and provided 16 assists in 35 appearances in all competitions this season for Barca.

A product of the Barca academy, Yamal has played 86 times for the Catalan club since making his senior debut in April 2023.

"Lamine is going to continue at Barca, the important thing now is to think about sporting matters," Mendes told Spanish media after a meeting with Barca president Joan Laporta in Lisbon.

Barcelona visit Portuguese side Benfica for the Champions League round of 16 first-leg tie later on Wednesday.