Lamine Yamal, a 16-year-old Spanish sensation, etched his name in football history on Tuesday by scoring a spectacular goal against France in the Euro 2024 semi-final. This stunning strike, which sailed into the top corner in the 21st minute, not only helped Spain overcome a one-goal deficit to win 2-1, but also made Yamal the youngest player ever to score in a World Cup or Euros, surpassing the legendary Brazilian Pele.
While the world marvels at his precocious talent, Yamal remains grounded. When asked about his goal, which many consider the best of the tournament, he modestly stated, “I’m really happy for the victory and for getting to the final. I don’t know if it’s the best goal of the tournament but it’s the most special for me because getting to a final with the national team in the Euros is something super special for me.”
Yamal’s dazzling performances throughout the tournament, characterized by his creativity, pace, and panache, have been instrumental in Spain’s undefeated run. Spain, now on the cusp of a record-breaking fourth Euros title, owes much of its success to the young star. His coach, Luis de la Fuente, aptly described Yamal’s goal as “a touch of genius”.
Despite the recognition and accolades, Yamal remains focused on the team’s collective success. When asked if he considers himself an icon of the tournament, he replied, “I try not to look at that too much. I don’t know if I’m the icon or not. That doesn’t really help anything on the pitch. I need to help my team, that’s what I try to do and that’s what I tried to do today.”
Reaching the final with the senior national team is a dream come true for Yamal, a dream shared by his mother. “I was really happy after the final whistle. It’s a dream come true, reaching a final with the senior national team,” he said. “Even my mum said it was her dream too. So I’m really happy that was my goal against France, my first goal against France, in a semi-final.”
Yamal’s goal and Spain’s victory over France was a fitting response to a pre-match remark by French midfielder Adrien Rabiot, who reportedly said Yamal would need to do more to earn a place in the final. After the match, Yamal ran to a television camera and yelled “speak now, speak now.” When questioned about who he was addressing, he enigmatically replied, “The person I’m talking about, this person will know who this person is.”
