Lamine Yamal has been a sensation at Euro 2024, but it was on Tuesday in Munich where he truly came of age with a breathtaking goal against France, propelling Spain to a 2-1 victory and into the final. Despite a strong start by France and a lead taken by Randal Kolo Muani, the 16-year-old Yamal stunned the French team with a remarkable strike, becoming the youngest scorer in the tournament's history. His crucial intervention after 21 minutes unsettled Didier Deschamps' side, and Dani Olmo secured the win with a second goal just four minutes later.
The Barcelona winger, who had previously assisted teammates in victories over Croatia, Georgia, and Germany without scoring himself, described his goal in the match against France as spontaneous. "We were a goal down, and I just got the ball – I didn't think much before shooting," Yamal told ZDF. "I'm not focused on being only 16; I'm just enjoying the moment and proud to be in the final."
Yamal, who debuted for Barcelona at 15 during the 2022-23 season, has grown significantly with each appearance, becoming an essential player for his team. Similarly, with Spain, he has quickly become a pivotal player, despite only having 13 caps for his country. His most recent appearance in a humid Bavaria night was historic, scoring what could be the goal of the tournament.
Spain's coach, Luis de la Fuente, praised Yamal, calling him a genius. "We are fortunate he is Spanish and can enjoy his talent for many years," he said. Yamal's play is smart and effective, focusing on creating space rather than mere showmanship. His style is reminiscent of his childhood idol, Lionel Messi, with whom he shares a touching connection from a 2007 charity calendar photo.
In the game against France, Yamal's agility and footwork allowed him to outmaneuver Adrien Rabiot and create a shooting opportunity. He nearly scored another in the second half, narrowly missing. While he needs to improve his finishing, his maturity and defensive contributions were also noted by his teammates. Yamal turns 17 on July 13, the day before the final in Berlin, and his birthday wish is simple: "To win, to win, to win."
