The FC Barcelona U19 team clinched a record-breaking third UEFA Youth League title after a resounding victory over Turkish side Trabzonspor at the Centre Sportif de Colovray in NYOM.
Ibrahim Diarra was the star of the show as the Catalans became the first club to win the UEFA Youth League three different times. Diarra made his first start in the competition during the semi-finals and had been doubtful about the final before he was included in the Starting XI. In typical Barca fashion, they controlled and dictated the tempo of the match for most periods of the game. Diarra opened the scoring for Barca in the 11th minute. Receiving a pass on the edge of the box, he danced away from his marker before firing a low finish into the net.
Andrés Cuenca doubled the lead for Barca in the 19th minute, poking in the rebound from Landry Farré’s saved header. Goalscorer turned provider as Diarra teed Hugo Alba for his 57th-minute goal. The Malian midfielder evaded his marker brilliantly and released a pass to Alba, who applied a calm finish. The teenager was at his unplayable best, and he grabbed his brace in the 68th minute. Arnau Pradas controlled a long ball down the right wing perfectly before threading a pass into Diarra’s path. The youngster cut in on his left foot and fired the ball into the bottom corner.
Diarra was substituted in the 80th minute, and Bican Tibukoğlu netted a consolation goal for Trabzonspor in the closing minutes of the game. Barcelona head coach Juliano Belletti expressed his delight as they clinched their third UEFA Youth League title after winning it previously in 2014 and 2018.
Diarra announced his name to the world during the 2023 FIFA U-17 World Cup, spearheading Mali’s third-place finish in the tournament alongside Manchester United’s Sekou Kone. He received the Silver Boot at the end of the competition for Mali, banging in five goals paired with four assists. His stellar performances earned him numerous admirers across Europe, and FC Barcelona eventually won the race for his signature, finalizing the agreement in January 2024. FIFA Regulations relating to signing non-EU players prevented him from joining immediately, and the Catalans had to wait till he turned 18 before he moved to Spain.
Ultimately, he completed his move to Spain in November 2024 on a permanent deal that runs till 30 June 2028, joining Barca academy alongside compatriot Arouna Traoré from Africa Foot Academy. Primarily left-footed, he is a winger by trade. Versatile, tenacious, skillful, and pacey, he has been mostly utilized as a midfielder during his time in Catalonia.
In just four months in Spain, Ibrahim Diarra has clinched two trophies: the Copa Del Rey and now the UEFA Youth League. His path to the first team could be fast-tracked next season. Remember his name, Ibrahim Diarra.
