In Spain’s opening game against Croatia, Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to feature at the European Championships at 16 years.
The 16-year-old was lively at the wing against Croatia and made an assist on his Euro debut. He played a gorgeous cross in the Croatia box which was headed home by Dani Carvajal. He had a chance to get on the scoresheet himself but his shot was saved by Dominik Livaković.
He made some darting runs behind the Croatian defense throughout the game and kept their defense on their heels. He made a lot of successful dribbles and was unlucky not to score or assist his second.
Personal Life
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana was born on 13 July 2007 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. His father is a Morrocan and his mother is from Equatorial Guinea. Lamine’s family supported his dream throughout although his father faced some controversies including legal issues.
Nasraoui had a deep passion for soccer and ensured that his son received the best training possible.
Yamal started playing football on the concrete football court right next door, where children who cannot afford the registration fee at local clubs tend to play. It is one of the focal points of the neighborhood and is graffitied at its head: ‘Rocafonda’.
There is more graffiti too, just with the number: 304. It’s on walls, on rubbish bins, everywhere. It refers to the local postcode: 08304. When Yamal celebrated his first Barca goal, he made a gesture about the code, a symbol of identity, of belonging.
Education
Yamal is currently finishing the last year of Spain’s compulsory secondary education. He is balancing his football and academics and is even carrying his homework to Germany at the Euro 2024 highlighting his professionalism and dedication towards his career.
Journey To La Masia
Yamal started his football journey at the age of seven when he joined the La Masia academy. During his early days at La Masia, his left foot caught the attention of many and was labeled as a marvel of finishing, dribbling, and passing precision.
He began his career as a center forward but shifted to left wing with time. He was regarded as the ‘most mature’ footballer at La Masia as his focus always remained on creating and scoring goals rather than showmanship.
As he continued to rack up numbers, he was also praised for his shyness and down-to-earth nature. COVID-19 did not stop his growth, and he was quickly promoted to Iván Carrasco’s Cadete A skipping Cadete B. He was regarded as one of the best False 9’s at Iván Carrasco’s Cadete A.
Barcelona Debut
Yamal’s growth continued and at the mere age of 15, he was handed his full Barcelona debut in La Liga. A week later he was called up for a Barcelona B game where he also became the youngest player to take part.
Yamal was an important player of Barcelona this season as he was one of the most influential attacking players and won the matches single-handedly for his side.
His unique style of play has drawn comparisons with Lionel Messi. Despite having a long way to go in his career, Yamal has already established himself as one of the best Barcelona players currently and is on track to become one of their all-time greats.
Spain Debut
Yamal’s performances earned him a senior international call-up. He was called up for Spain’s friendly match against Georgia. Yamal scored on his debut in a 7-1 victory for the Spaniards.
Lamine Yamal’s contract details and Weekly Wages
Barcelona secured Yamal’s services until June 30, 2026, and has a release clause of €1 billion. According to reports, Yamal’s contract is set to automatically update upon his 18th birthday, extending his stay at Barcelona until 2030. He currently earns an annual salary of $1 million.
Records broken by Barcelona wonder kid Lamine Yamal
- Youngest Debutant: Yamal’s debut against Real Betis made him Barcelona’s youngest-ever debutant, a record previously held by Vicenç Martinez.
- Youngest Scorer in La Liga: His goal against Granada cemented his place as the youngest scorer in La Liga history.
- Spain’s Youngest International and Scorer: Against Georgia, he became Spain’s youngest-ever player and goalscorer, breaking records previously held by teammate Gavi.
- Champions League Milestone: Selected to start against Napoli, Yamal became the youngest player to feature in a Champions League knockout game.
Mohd Faisal Hakak is a sports author from Kashmir. He likes to keep tabs on the sporting world with a keen interest in football, motorsports, NBA, and other marquee sports. He is a science graduate from Islamia College Srinagar.
