Given his extraordinary talent and record-breaking feats, it's no surprise that Lamine Yamal is the youngest scorer in the Euro Championships, showcasing his immense potential on the international stage. But who is he? This young player has an extraordinary story.
A Spanish football prodigy from Catalonia, Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana, was born on July 13, 2007, in Esplugues de Llobregat, within the Barcelona metropolitan area. His mother, Sheila Ebana, hails from Equatorial Guinea, and his father, Mounir Nasraoui, is Moroccan. Despite his parents' separation when he was three, both remained actively involved in his upbringing. Lamine's football journey began at the age of four at a local club in Granollers, shortly after moving there with his mother.
By the age of six, Lamine was already scouted by FC Barcelona, joining their prestigious La Masia academy in 2014. His talent quickly set him apart, making him one of the academy's standout prospects.
Rising through the youth ranks at La Masia, Lamine's skills earned him a place with the Juvenil A team for the 2022-23 season, well ahead of his age group. By early September 2022, he was training with Barcelona's first team under Xavi's guidance. He made his first-team debut on April 29, 2023, becoming the youngest player to appear for Barcelona since 1922. His debut season saw him contribute to Barcelona's La Liga title win, although he missed the celebration due to international duty.
The 2023-24 season marked his breakthrough into the first team. Throughout the season, he set multiple records, including being the youngest scorer in La Liga and the youngest player to register more than 10 goal contributions in the league. His Champions League debut also saw him break several age-related records.
In June 2024, Lamine was named to Spain's squad for the European Championship. He made history as the youngest player to feature and provide an assist in the tournament. His contributions were vital, including a spectacular goal in the semi-final against France, making him the youngest scorer in the tournament's history.
Lamine Yamal is known for his exceptional dribbling, passing, chance-creating abilities and technical skills that draw comparisons to Lionel Messi, while he cites Neymar as a significant influence on his playing style.
Young Yamal is also going viral because of an old photo of Lionel Messi with a baby in his arms. The photo went viral after the baby's father posted it on Instagram. The baby in the picture, taken nearly 17 years ago, is none other than Lamine Yamal, now a rising star in Spanish football. At the time, 20-year-old Messi was photographed holding six-month-old Yamal during a charity calendar shoot at Barcelona's Camp Nou stadium.
The photo session in 2007 was part of an annual charity drive by Diario Sport and UNICEF, where Barcelona players posed with children and their families. Photographer Joan Monfort captured the moment, unaware of the significance it would later hold. Monfort, a freelance photographer, recalled the challenging shoot with Messi, who was unsure how to interact with baby Yamal. Now, seeing the photos resurface and trend online has brought excitement to Monfort's career. The image has resonated with fans, marking the early connection between two football legends, Messi and Yamal, both products of Barcelona's La Masia academy. These are the makings of a great career story for Lamine Yamal indeed.