Barcelona teen sensation Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to appear at the European Championship when he helped Spain win their Group B match against Croatia in Berlin on Saturday (June 15)
Yamal, 16 years and 338 days old, usurps the record of Poland midfielder Kacper Kozłowski, who was 17 years and 246 days old when he came off the bench at the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 (played in 2021) against Spain.
Yama, whose mother is from Equatorial Guinea and father is from Morocco, grew up in one of the most deprived areas in Barcelona and all of Spain but possesses a magic touch.
Yamal set up Spain’s third goal in the 3-0 win over Croatia, providing an excellent cross for Dani Carvajal as the three-time champions got off to a fine start.
While Yamal became the youngest player ever in Euros history, 32-year-old Carvajal’s goal made him Spain’s oldest-ever goal scorer in the tournament.
Captain Álvaro Morata and Fabián Ruiz also scored for Spain.
After the match, Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said of Yamal: “He’s on the path to be a great player, but he’s very young and we have to be patient with him.”
Messi expects him to win the Ballon d’Or
Former Barcelona star Lionel Messi expects Yamal to be a Ballon d’Or winner one day like him.
However, the teenager says, “There will never be another like Messi.”
After the match, Yamal said, “I’m very happy for the win, for the debut, and now we change our focus to the next game.” “In the end, the team wants to play inside and I’m here to help the team, to defend, whatever it takes,” he added.
Despite his youth, he is no longer a rookie on the field.
Yamal made 50 appearances for Barça in all competitions in the 2023-2024 season, scoring seven goals and setting up 10 more.
He made his senior debut for Spain last September, becoming the youngest player to play and score forLa Roja in a win against Georgia, and earned his eighth cap for his country in the match against Croatia.
Yamal’s trademark 304 celebratory gesure is formed by angling three fingers on his right hand, forming a ‘0’ with his thumb and forefinger, and angling four fingers on his left hand.
It is a homage to the neighbourhood where he was raised, Rocafonda 304, an area of Barcelona that is one of the most deprived zones in Spain.
He is a beacon of hope for people, showing dreams can come true and that anything is possible.
Yamal fell in love with football watching his father and older cousin play in the park opposite where he lived.
“I spent more time at the park than at home. Every time I set foot in the street, it was to play football. These experiences stay with you,” he said.