All about Lamine Yamal, Spain's football star poised to fill Messi's shoes at Barcelona after Euro 24 win

Spain's football sensation Lamine Yamal has taken the world by storm by winning the European Championship and the tournament¡¯s Best Young Player award just a day after turning 17.

Yamal contributed significantly to Spain's success while still 16 and concluded his performance by assisting Nico Williams¡¯ opening goal in Spain's 2-1 victory over England during the final on 14 July 2024.

Yamal made history as the youngest player to appear, score, and play in a final at the European Championship. He finished his debut European Championship with four assists and one goal, marking a stellar performance.

In the past two decades, FC Barcelona has come across many talented forwards, but three years after Lionel Messi's exit, the club might have closed in on a worthy successor.

Lamine Yamal has quickly established himself as one of the most formidable attackers in football. His outstanding performance at Euro 2024, where he became the youngest player to feature in a major tournament final, surpassing Pel¨¦, solidified his reputation.

Here's everything you need to know about the young star with an unexpected connection to Lionel Messi, often hailed as the 'best player in the world'.

Yamal's upbringing

Born on 13 July 2007 in Barcelona to Mounir and Sheila, who are from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea respectively, Yamal takes pride in his heritage, as evidenced by the flags of his parents' home nations sewn into his boots. Raised in the Rocafonda neighbourhood, 20 miles from Barcelona, his family remains rooted there. His uncle runs a bakery adorned with a mural of Yamal's signature celebration, a tribute to his hometown.

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Yamal is known for his 3-0-4 finger gesture after scoring, representing his area's postcode. Remarkably, as a baby, he was bathed by striker Lionel Messi during a Barcelona F.C. calendar shoot, a photo that recently went viral. Yamal¡¯s father, Mounir, called it the "beginning of two legends."

Yamal's promising career

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Scouted at age seven, Yamal joined La Masia Academy, which has produced stars like Lionel Messi, Xavi, and Gerard Pique. He made his professional debut for Barcelona at 15 and had accumulated 54 caps for the club and 13 caps for the national team before the tournament.

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Concerned that Morocco might recruit him, Spanish manager Luis de la Fuente gave Yamal his national debut. Barcelona is also protective, with a contract clause demanding ?868 million for any potential buyers. Luis described Yamal as a "special breed" to Reuters.

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Yamal's schooling

Despite his football commitments, Yamal is still in school and brought his homework to Germany during the Euros to keep up with his studies. "I brought my homework here because I'm in the 4th year," he told reporters. "I have online classes too and those are going fine. I hope the teacher doesn't get mad at me."

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