Barcelona winger Lamine Yamal has already made headlines in 2025—not just for his dazzling skills, but for his extraordinary misfortune in front of goal. So far this year, the young La Masia graduate has hit the woodwork more than any other player, potentially costing him up to nine additional goals.

Scoring is the lifeblood of football, and while finishing ability is crucial, luck often plays an overlooked role. Few experiences are as frustrating as seeing a shot glance off the post or crossbar, and Yamal has endured this heartbreak repeatedly in 2025.

Despite his youth, the winger is already considered one of the world’s most dangerous attackers. However, some critics have pointed to his goal tally—21 so far this year—as evidence that he is failing to convert the chances he creates. Yet this figure is misleading: with nine shots denied by the woodwork across league and international matches, Yamal could easily have added almost 10 more goals to his record.

In this particular “unluckiest finisher” ranking, Yamal leads the way, ahead of England’s Harry Kane (seven), Argentina’s Julian Alvarez (six), and Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe (both six).

The Inter Nightmare

Of Yamal’s nine woodwork incidents this year, three came in a dramatic Champions League semi-final tie against Inter Milan.

In the first leg in Spain, which ended 3-3, Yamal scored in the first half to reduce Inter’s lead. Yet two strikes that rattled the post in the 26th and 87th minutes denied him a historic hat-trick and a Barcelona victory.

The heartbreak continued in the final moments: with Barcelona clinging to a one-goal lead that could have sealed their place in the final, Yamal’s late effort hit the post, only for Acerbi to score a last-gasp equalizer. The match went into extra time, where Inter ultimately emerged victorious.

A Season of Near Misses

The first leg against Inter was the only game in 2025 in which Yamal hit the woodwork twice, a feat he also managed in a 5-0 Copa del Rey quarter-final win over Valencia. Other victims of his misfortune include Atletico Madrid, Girona, Villarreal, and Celta Vigo, with the only defeat coming against Villarreal, curiously enough.

While the woodwork has denied him multiple times, Yamal’s skill and creativity remain unquestioned, and if luck swings his way, there’s little doubt he could turn 2025 into a record-breaking season.