The 16-year-old Spanish winger Lamine Yamal, who serves for the Spanish La Liga giants Barcelona, is already a popular name in world football. During Spain’s opening match of the UEFA Euro 2024, Yamal created history after he started the game. The Barca winger became the youngest player in UEFA Euro history.
Lamine Yamal created UEFA Euro history at the age of 16 years
The three-time UEFA European Championship winners Spain started their Euro 2024 campaign with the opening Group B match, Spain vs Croatia, on Saturday (15 April). At the age of 16 years and 338 days, Lamine Yamal was named in the Spanish starting XI. While Spain won their tournament opener by 3-0, Yamal assisted the last goal during the stoppage time of the first half (Dani Carvajal's goal).
Youngest player in UEFA Euro history: Yamal broke Polish midfielder Kacper Kozłowski's record
In UEFA Euro history, Yamal became the first player to play for a team before age 17. Previously, Polish midfielder Kacper Kozłowski held the record for the youngest player in UEFA European Championship history when he was fielded against Spain in the Group E match of the Euro 2020. During that 1-1 draw, Kozłowski was 17 years and 246 days old.
Who is Lamine Yamal?
Lamine Yamal has already gained popularity in the football world. He was a member of the FC Barcelona youth academy, which he joined in 2013 at the age of seven. Due to his strong consistent performances, Yamal has earned the wonder kid tag. He is excellent at passing and dribbling, as well as at chance-creating ability. He is famous as a right-winger who can also effectively play as a centre-forward and attacking midfielder.
Joint-leading goal-scorer in European U17 Championship 2023
Yamal played for Spain U17 in the
2023 UEFA European U17 Championship. Although Spain were eliminated from the
semi-finals, Yamal finished as the joint-leading goal-scorer with four goals.
Broke multiple youngest records for Barcelona; La Liga U23 Player of the Season
At the age of 15, Yamal became
the youngest ever to play for Barcelona. Last season, the 16-year-old Yamal
also recorded the youngest starter ever for Barcelona. In the last UEFA
Champions League season, the youngster also created history by becoming the second
youngest player in UCL history.
At the end of La Liga 2023/24, Yamal won the La Liga U23 Player of the Season award. In his 50 matches for Barcelona, the Spanish teenager scored seven goals and ten assists.
Youngest player and goalscorer for Spain
Yamal made his senior international debut for the Spain national football team in September 2023, when La Roja faced Georgia in the European Qualifiers. At the age of 16 years and 57 days, Yamal created history by becoming the youngest player and goalscorer for Spain. He scored a goal on his senior international debut, where Spain thrashed the hosts Georgia by 7-1. In his seven international matches before his Euro debut, Yamal scored two goals and four assists.
Did you find this article interesting? Share it with your fellow football fans on social media!
