Can you tell me about Lamine Yamal? How old is the rising Spanish star who is causing a stir at Euro 2024? The final of Euro 2024 will be between England and Spain.

“The stars align” – The story behind viral photos of Messi and baby Yamal

Lamine Yamal has taken Euro 2024 by storm and announced himself to the world with a run of blistering performances for Spain en route to the final. The youngster then took it a step further in the semi-final against France when he scored an incredible curling goal to equalise the game before Dani Olmo’s winner moments later.

Yamal’s story is already one for the ages. With glistening skills and records that may never be broken, he is truly a once-in-a-lifetime talent. He has the chance to make even more history this Sunday when Spain face England in the Euro final in Berlin.

With Yamal capturing headlines and attention around the world for his spectacular performances, here is everything you need to know about one of football’s most talented prospects.

Who is Lamine Yamal?

Regarded as one of the most promising talents in the world of football, 17-year-old Lamine Yamal has been lighting up La Liga for Barcelona all year before bringing his talents to the international stage. Yamal has just celebrated his 17th birthday on July 13, 2024. Yamal became the youngest European Championship player ever when he started their opening game against Croatia in June, aged 16 years and 362 days. It was inevitable that he would soon become the youngest scorer at the tournament and he achieved that feat in the semi-final with an audacious shot from outside the box.

Who does Yamal play for?

Raised in Catalonia, Yamal plays on the right wing for FC Barcelona and Spain. A graduate of Barcelona’s famed La Masia, Yamal has played 51 times for the Catalan side and scored seven goals and made seven assists. He made his club debut at 15 years and 290 days old under former manager Xavi, coming on for Gavi in the 83rd minute of a 4-0 win against Real Betis in April 2023 as Barcelona marched towards the La Liga title. He won his first league start a few months later at the beginning of the 2023/24 season, aged 16 years and 38 days old. He became the youngest player to start a La Liga game this century. On September 8, 2023, Yamal became both Spain’s youngest player and goalscorer in the same game when he netted in a 7-1 win over Georgia in the side’s Euro 2024 qualifying campaign. He came on for Dani Olmo at half-time, only 57 days after turning 16. Before Sunday’s final against England, he made 13 appearances for the Spanish national side, scoring three times and adding six assists. Neither Argentina’s Lionel Messi nor Portugal’s Cristiano Ronaldo had played a first-team game for club or country when they were 16, highlighting the immense talent of Yamal.

Yamal and Messi

On July 4, Yamal’s father Mounir Nasraoui, who immigrated to Spain from Morocco, posted a picture to Instagram of his son as a baby and Barcelona star Messi. The caption, translated into English, reads “the beginning of two legends.” The incredible photo took place in the visitors’ locker room at Barcelona’s Camp Nou in late 2007 when Yamal was just a few months old. In the photo with Messi and Yamal is his mother, Sheila Ebana, who immigrated to Spain from Equatorial Guinea. According to the Associated Press, the picture occurred after Yamal’s family won a raffle in the town of Matar, Catalonia, where they lived at the time. The raffle, organised by UNICEF and Diario Sport, saw winners receive the opportunity to take photos with Barcelona players.