Lamine Yamal enjoyed a fantastic debut season at Barcelona this year, but his Euro 2024 performances continue to amaze at the highest level. His wondergoal was key in Spain’s comeback against France, scoring his first goal at a major tournament.
The 16-year-old will turn 17 the day before the final against the Netherlands or England, but found time to fit in a goal before doing so. With it, he became the youngest player to play in a major tournament semi-final, surpassing none other than Pele, and breaking a record that has stood for 66 years. He also became the youngest player to score in the Euros, and now only Dani Olmo has more goal contributions than Lamine Yamal’s four at the tournament.
🥇 Lamine Yamal becomes the 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 player ever to win Man of the Match in UEFA game.
◉ The 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 player ever to score at the Euros.
◉ The 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 player ever to assist at the Euros.
◉ The 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬𝐭 player ever to feature at the Euros.… pic.twitter.com/wqoVVdDP9Y
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) July 9, 2024
Of course, close of observers of his career did not take long to recall that Lamine Yamal has done this before. Last summer at the under-17 Euros, he also cut in against France in the semi-final, sticking the ball in the top corner. However in that instance, France came back to win 3-1 before losing to Germany on penalties in the final.
Lamine Yamal 🆚 France, #U17EURO semi-final, 2023 🤯 pic.twitter.com/kORrM0UmjL
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) July 9, 2024
Much of the discourse after the match was dominated by Lamine Yamal’s response to Adrien Rabiot, who had said beforehand that he would need to do more to reach the final than he had done up until that point.
♟️Grandmaster Lamine Yamal. pic.twitter.com/9XlazpwLg0
— Football España (@footballespana_) July 10, 2024
The following day the teenager was not done, and having originally posted a chess graphic in response to Rabiot the day before the match, posted on Instagram again with the simple caption ‘Checkmate’.
Lamine Yamal on IG. pic.twitter.com/B9OszuSwoR
— Football España (@footballespana_) July 10, 2024