What were you doing at 16? Actually, it doesn’t matter what you were doing at 16 because regardless of what it was Lamine Yamal will always have bragging rights over all of us. He has already so many records to his name that feature the word “Youngest” in their titles, that it’s quite hard to keep count.
Last year during the semi-finals of the U-17 Euros, a 15-year-old Spaniard with braces scored a golazo from outside the box against France. He did it again a year apart, against the same opponents at the same stage, but this time in Euros 2024. Picking up a loose ball from about 30 metres out, Yamal twisted and turned in front of Rabiot who had a few words to say the day before. And without any hesitation the Barcelona winger let one fly. And boy did it fly. Lamine Yamal was already off towards Spain’s bench as the ball curled into the right top corner with some help from the woodwork. Mike Maignan could only watch as the ball flew past his outstretched body as his team conceded their 1-goal lead in the Euros 2024 Semi-Final.
In that moment, it became clear to everyone watching, as if it wasn’t already clear, that this kid was destined for greatness. Scoring what will most certainly go down as the Goal of the Tournament in Euros 2024, will be just the start of a beautiful gallery of footballing moments the 16-year-old is yet to showcase to the footballing world.
When his “Story” one day turns into a “Legend”, the goal he scored tonight will mark the end of his first chapter titled, “The Boy with the World at His Feet”. The world shall know, that Lamine Yamal delivered when Mbappe couldn’t. Knocking out the 2022 World Cup finalists France with help from Dani Olmo, the scorer of the second Spain goal, among other teammates. With Spain booking their place in the Euros 2024 Final, thanks to Yamal’s heroics, they will face England or Netherlands at the Allianz Arena on Monday.
Baptized by the Goat
For anyone wondering how Lamine can pull off such magic at just 16 years of age, don’t be so surprised. After all, he did have Lionel Messi’s blessing all along! Recently, a photo has resurfaced on the Internet, which dates back to 2007. When 20-year-old Lionel Messi was just a shy player at Barcelona who hadn’t shaken up the footballing world just yet but was still labelled by many as the “next big thing”. And Lamine, well, he was barely 6 months old!
As part of an annual charity initiative by the local newspaper Diario Sport in partnership with UNICEF, Barcelona players participated in a calendar photo shoot with children and their families back in 2007. And this is where the now-viral photograph was born. In what is the biggest coincidence ever, Lionel Messi was partnered up with a baby Lamine Yamal, where Messi is seen playing with Yamal who’s taking a soap bath in his baby bathtub.
