Spanish striker Lamine Yamal, aged 16 years and 11 months, on Saturday became the youngest player in history to play in a European Nations Football Championship match.
Yamal, who is exactly 16 years and 338 days old and plays for club FC Barcelona, was among the 11 Spanish starters who beat Croatia 3-0 in Berlin.
Before him, the youngest player to play a match at a Euro was Poland’s Kacper Kozlowski, who was 17 years and 246 days old when he faced Spain in 2021.
“I am very happy with this victory, for my debut at the Euro”Yamal told Spanish channel La 1 after the meeting. “We have confidence in ourselves, we are a very efficient team and we show it. We are happy because all the work done in recent months has paid off.”.
If he scores during this Euro, Yamal will also become the youngest scorer in Euro history. The record is currently held by Switzerland’s Johan Vonlanthen, who was 18 years and 141 days old when he scored against France in 2004.
Lamine Yamal (l) decisive passer for Dani Carvajal, scorer of Spain’s 3rd goal against Croatia, June 15, 2024 in Berlin / JOHN MACDOUGALL / AFP
The Barcelona winger failed to score on Saturday against the Croatians, but he gave an assist to Dani Carvajal with a perfect cross for the 3-0 goal (45+2).
Yamal stood out this season with Barcelona by becoming an indisputable starter in attack at the age of 16, scoring seven goals and eight assists in 50 matches in all competitions.
The one who is under contract until 2026 is considered the best player from the “Masia” – the FC Barcelona training center – since Lionel Messi.
“It’s almost a gift from God, very few players have his qualities”declared his coach Luis De la Fuente on Friday.
Yamal now has eight caps with Spain, whose attacking sector was very young on Saturday, including Nico Williams and Pedri, both 21 years old.
