section_path: Club career/Barcelona/2023–24: First team breakthrough
section_name: 2023–24: First team breakthrough
paragraph_text: 2023–24: First team breakthrough
  
  Although he remained on the Barcelona Atlètic squad throughout the season, Yamal earned his first start for the club on 20 August 2023 in a 2–0 victory over Cádiz at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. His first start was met with a standing ovation as he was subbed off with five minutes left in the game. In his next starting appearance, Yamal was named man of the match after contributing towards two goals scored by Gavi and Robert Lewandowski in a 4–3 victory over Villarreal on 28 August 2023. He was named the inaugural U23 Player of the Month for August as a result of his performances. On 19 September, Yamal made his Champions League debut in a 5–0 victory over Royal Antwerp. On 2 October, Yamal extended his contract with Barcelona until 2026, with a buyout clause of €1 billion. Two days later, he started in his first match of the Champions League against Porto. On 8 October, Yamal scored his first goal for the first team in a 2–2 away draw to Granada and made his first El Clásico appearance as a substitute in a 2–1 loss at home on 28 October. On 4 December 2023, Yamal was given the inaugural Golden Boy The Youngest trophy, which is awarded to the youngest player nominated for the Golden Boy award. Subsequently, on the ceremony day, Yamal was not present due to school.
  
  On 11 January 2024, Yamal scored in a 2–0 win over Osasuna in the semi-final of the Supercopa de España, becoming the youngest player to score in the Supercopa, at 16 years and 182 days. Yamal then played the last 29 minutes of the final against Real Madrid on 14 January. Two weeks later, on 25 January, he scored in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals against Athletic Bilbao in an eventual 4–2 loss after extra time, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the competition's history. On 11 February, Yamal scored his first brace in a 3–3 draw against Granada, earning the man of the match. In the 2023–24 season, Barcelona finished second in La Liga and ended their Champions League run at the quarter-finals after being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain, against whom Yamal registered an assist in the second leg, which they lost 4–1.
  
  At 16 years of age, Yamal broke several records for Barcelona during the season, making 50 appearances in all competitions. In La Liga, Yamal became the youngest starter for Barcelona, the youngest player to record an assist, the youngest to score for Barcelona and in La Liga, the youngest player to feature for Barcelona in El Clásico, and the youngest player to score a brace in La Liga and first player ever to achieve this record under the age of 17. He also became the youngest player to register more than ten goal contributions in La Liga at 16 years and 213 days. In the Champions League, Yamal became the second youngest player to feature in the cup (behind Youssoufa Moukoko), the youngest player named in a starting line-up, and the youngest player to play in the knockout phase.
  
  Although he remained on the Barcelona Atlètic squad throughout the season, Yamal earned his first start for the club on 20 August 2023 in a 2–0 victory over Cádiz at the Estadi Olímpic Lluís Companys. His first start was met with a standing ovation as he was subbed off with five minutes left in the game. In his next starting appearance, Yamal was named man of the match after contributing towards two goals scored by Gavi and Robert Lewandowski in a 4–3 victory over Villarreal on 28 August 2023. He was named the inaugural U23 Player of the Month for August as a result of his performances. On 19 September, Yamal made his Champions League debut in a 5–0 victory over Royal Antwerp. On 2 October, Yamal extended his contract with Barcelona until 2026, with a buyout clause of €1 billion. Two days later, he started in his first match of the Champions League against Porto. On 8 October, Yamal scored his first goal for the first team in a 2–2 away draw to Granada and made his first El Clásico appearance as a substitute in a 2–1 loss at home on 28 October. On 4 December 2023, Yamal was given the inaugural Golden Boy The Youngest trophy, which is awarded to the youngest player nominated for the Golden Boy award. Subsequently, on the ceremony day, Yamal was not present due to school.
  
  On 11 January 2024, Yamal scored in a 2–0 win over Osasuna in the semi-final of the Supercopa de España, becoming the youngest player to score in the Supercopa, at 16 years and 182 days. Yamal then played the last 29 minutes of the final against Real Madrid on 14 January. Two weeks later, on 25 January, he scored in the Copa del Rey quarter-finals against Athletic Bilbao in an eventual 4–2 loss after extra time, becoming the youngest goalscorer in the competition's history. On 11 February, Yamal scored his first brace in a 3–3 draw against Granada, earning the man of the match. In the 2023–24 season, Barcelona finished second in La Liga and ended their Champions League run at the quarter-finals after being knocked out by Paris Saint-Germain, against whom Yamal registered an assist in the second leg, which they lost 4–1.
  
  At 16 years of age, Yamal broke several records for Barcelona during the season, making 50 appearances in all competitions. In La Liga, Yamal became the youngest starter for Barcelona, the youngest player to record an assist, the youngest to score for Barcelona and in La Liga, the youngest player to feature for Barcelona in El Clásico, and the youngest player to score a brace in La Liga and first player ever to achieve this record under the age of 17. He also became the youngest player to register more than ten goal contributions in La Liga at 16 years and 213 days. In the Champions League, Yamal became the second youngest player to feature in the cup (behind Youssoufa Moukoko), the youngest player named in a starting line-up, and the youngest player to play in the knockout phase.