"A Star is Born: Lamine Yamal's Journey to Euro Glory and Beyond"

Portrait:

With his stunning goal against France in the semi-finals, the prodigy from La Roja became the youngest player ever to score in a Euro, at 16 years and 362 days old. This Sunday evening in Berlin, he faces England in the tournament final.

Early Achievement :

By comparison, Kylian Mbappé (25) suddenly feels older. Lamine Yamal celebrated his 17th birthday on Saturday, July 13, on the eve of the Euro final where Spain faces England. Last year around the same time, he was competing in the U17 European Championship. He made history on Tuesday with his goal against France in the tournament's semi-finals (2-1), becoming the youngest player to score in a Euro (at 16 years and 362 days). Earlier this winter, he also became the youngest to play in a Champions League knockout match for FC Barcelona. In April 2023, he was the youngest to come off the bench in La Liga for the Catalan club.

Diversity :

Born in Esplugues de Llobregat, in the province of Barcelona, Catalonia, to a mother, Sheila Ebana, from Bata, Equatorial Guinea, employed at McDonald's, and a father, Mounir Nasraoui, from Larache, Morocco, a painter by profession, Lamine Yamal epitomizes celebrated diversity across the Pyrenees.

Spain Over Morocco :

The young striker could have chosen to represent Morocco, but he never wavered in selecting La Roja: "I have always played for Spain, since the U15s, and I have always been clear: I wanted to play for Spain, win a European Championship, a World Cup, and achieve as much as possible," he explained on the RFEF website, the Spanish football federation.

Barcelona's Project :

Lamine Yamal was integrated into the team this season while FC Barcelona, one of Spain's premier clubs alongside Real Madrid, has been experiencing serious sporting and financial crises for several years, particularly since the departure of Lionel Messi in 2021.

Future Prospects :

The Catalan club now has no intention of letting their young prodigy go. According to the Spanish press, Barça has already reached an agreement with Jorge Mendes, Lamine's agent, to extend his stay until at least 2030.

Market Value :

His market value has skyrocketed since his early days at Barça. According to Transfermarkt, the leading site on the subject, Lamine Yamal was valued at €25 million in August 2023. Now, he is worth around €90 million, ranking 19th globally. By comparison, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland of Norway, and Brazil's Vinicius Junior are valued at €180 million. Barcelona has set Lamine Yamal's release clause at €1 billion.

Idolization :

Following his superb goal against France, Lamine Yamal had all of Spain at his feet. Comparisons with former Barça star Lionel Messi, with whom he shares many similarities, were quick to follow: both are left-footed attackers, nurtured and trained at FC Barcelona, and of relatively small stature - 1.69m for the elder with eight Ballon d'Ors, and 1.78m for Lamine.

Physical Development :

Aware of the risks of injuries for such a young player (before him, Ansu Fati, another Barça prodigy, saw his progress hindered by numerous physical setbacks), Lamine Yamal constantly pays attention to his body's development. He grew 10 centimeters in a year, a change he compensated for by gaining an additional 7 kilograms of muscle.

Education :

In early December 2023, the Golden Boy ceremony was held in Turin, honoring the best young player in Europe. Lamine Yamal declined the invitation, citing school the following day and opting to lead a "normal life." During the Euro, he also earned his mandatory secondary education diploma (ESO) in Spain.

Olympic Games :

The audience at the Paris Olympics will not have the pleasure of watching Lamine Yamal, as he explained on Onda Cero radio: "I want to have a very long career. If something were to happen to me this year, I would be very angry with myself. I think I have time to participate in the Olympics."

In summary, Lamine Yamal embodies not only the promising future of Spanish football but also an inspiring figure of diversity and determination, capable of competing with the greatest names in sports.