Most teenagers celebrate their 17th birthday with a party or a night out with friends. However, for Spanish wonder-kid Lamine Yamal, turning 17 on Saturday comes with the significant responsibility of preparing for the Euro 2024 final.
Yamal has dazzled throughout the tournament in Germany, scoring a memorable goal against France in the semi-final on Tuesday. This goal set a new record, making him the youngest player ever to score at the European Championship at just 16 years and 362 days old. Yamal was already the youngest player to feature in a men’s Euros, to net for Spain, and to debut and score in La Liga.
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana’s rise to stardom has been phenomenal. Born to a McDonald’s-working mother from Equatorial Guinea and a father from Morocco. Yamal grew up in Rocafonda, a challenging neighborhood in Mataro, 20 miles from Barcelona. His trademark celebration—forming the numbers 304 with his thumb and fingers—pays tribute to Rocafonda’s 304 postcode, one of Spain’s most deprived areas.
Despite his family’s financial struggles, Yamal’s talent thrived on the streets. He began kicking a ball before he was 12 months old and honed his skills against older boys on the local concrete courts. “I spent more time at the park than at home,” Yamal recalled. “Every time I set foot in the street it was to play football. These experiences stay with you.”
After his parents, Mounir and Sheila, separated when he was three, Yamal lived with his mother in nearby La Torreta. His mother’s partner, local footballer Inocente Diez, encouraged her to sign him up for La Torreta FC, where he volunteered. Inocente noticed Yamal’s exceptional talent immediately, saying, “He seemed touched by a magic wand.”
Yamal quickly caught the attention of scouts from La Masia, Barcelona’s famed football academy. He moved into club accommodation with his father Mounir and was soon being touted for greatness. In his second year at Barcelona, Yamal scored 56 goals in 30 matches and often played with age groups four years older than his own.
At 15, head coach Xavi invited him to train with the first team, and he signed his first professional contract soon after. Less than a year later, he made his La Liga debut, becoming a household name in Spain.
Both Morocco and Spain vied for Yamal’s international allegiance, but he ultimately chose Spain. Scoring 30 minutes into his senior debut in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia. Former coach Ivan Carrasco praised Yamal’s talent, predicting, “He will do things we cannot yet imagine.”
Described by friends as “shy and quiet,” Yamal excels both on and off the pitch. During the Euro 2024 tournament, he took and passed his ESO exams, Spain’s equivalent of GCSEs.
Yamal’s father Mounir, a painter and decorator, has been a constant support. A prolific Instagram user, Mounir recently shared a photo of Yamal as a baby being bathed by Lionel Messi, a prize from a Unicef raffle in Mataro.
Yamal’s family, including his mother Sheila Ebana and sister Baraa. Celebrated with him in Munich on Tuesday and will be in Berlin on Sunday to support him. The birthday boy will be aiming to make another mark as Spain faces England in the Euro 2024 final.
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