Lamine Yamal has made a huge impact in football recently, breaking records and achieving feats even legends like Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo couldn’t at his age. At 17 years and one day, Yamal became the youngest player to win a European Championship or World Cup. In Spain’s 2-1 victory over England in the Euro 2024 final, he set up Nico Williams’ first goal and forced England’s goalkeeper into two great saves.
Yamal was involved in more goals than anyone else in the tournament, with one goal and four assists, setting records for the most assists in a single European Championship and being the first to directly contribute to goals in the quarter-final, semi-final, and final. Named the tournament’s Young Player of the Tournament, Yamal expressed his happiness and called it the best birthday present ever.
Football experts praised him highly. Rio Ferdinand called him an “elite player,” and Juan Mata mentioned that even Barcelona coach Xavi, who played alongside Messi, was amazed by Yamal’s quality.
Before turning 17, Yamal had already played 51 times for Barcelona, scoring seven goals and providing seven assists. For Spain, he has made 14 appearances, scored three goals, and made seven assists. His early career achievements surpass those of Messi, Ronaldo, Kylian Mbappe, and Erling Haaland at the same age.
Yamal broke multiple records, becoming Barcelona’s youngest player in the La Liga era, the youngest to start a La Liga game since 1939, and the youngest to assist a La Liga goal. He also set records in the Champions League, Spanish Super Cup, and Spanish Cup.
For Spain, he became the youngest player and goalscorer in a European Championship qualifier and broke Pele’s 1958 records for the youngest player to score and play in a Euros or World Cup semi-final. Yamal’s impressive performance and potential suggest he could become a football legend, following in the footsteps of Messi.
This perspective highlights Yamal’s remarkable achievements at such a young age, his potential for future greatness, and the admiration he has garnered from football experts.
Credit to BBC for the source of this information.
https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c0kr7w2d2d2o