Barcelona Prodigy Lamine Yamal Breaks Records, Inspires Hometown Youth at 17

Lamine has broken all records. He is the youngest player in Euro history, youngest assist provider, youngest goalscorer, youngest winner, etc. At 17 years and one day, he became the youngest player to take part in a World Cup or Euro final. A record previously held by King Pelé since 1958. He was 17 years and 249 days old when he played in the World Cup final that year with Brazil. Two days after lifting the Euro by defeating England in the final (2-1), the young talent received the award for the most beautiful goal of the tournament. A goal scored during the semi-final between Spain and France that ended the Blues’ adventure. Thanks to an exceptional goal and an assist in added time, the young talent allowed Barça to win 2-0 on Espanyol’s pitch during the 36th day of La Liga, giving the Catalan club its 28th championship title.

Born on July 13, 2007 in Esplugues de Llobregat, in the suburbs of Barcelona, to a Moroccan father, Mounir Nasraoui, and an Equatoguinean mother, Sheila Ebana, he is now the pride of Rocafonda, a working-class neighborhood of Mataro, where he grew up. He gives hope to the inhabitants of this neighborhood where evictions are daily, many households struggling to pay rent, which averages about 1,300 euros per month, a fortune for many. "In Rocafonda, more Lamine Yamal and fewer evictions," can be read on the graffiti of Club de Futbol Rocafonda, the municipal football field. For Mohammed Kaddouri, who is a year younger than Yamal, Barça’s gem is a source of inspiration for the neighborhood’s youth. "Since Lamine, so many people have started playing football and believe they can be like him. It’s not just boys, but girls too who play football," he says.

Despite his status as a brilliant player, Lamine remains a humble player. He often visits his family who still live in Rocafonda. Damia Castillo, aged 16, often meets him. "He always talks to us like a normal person, not like a big star. He’s from here, and so are we. It makes us think it could be me," she confides to Al Jazeera. The young talent often gives a nod to Rocafonda. When Yamal scored a beautiful goal against France during Euro 2024 last year, he celebrated by drawing the sign three, zero, four with his fingers. It was a reference to Rocafonda’s postal code (08304).

"Lamine has made Rocafonda known worldwide. It’s a working-class neighborhood with many migrants, but he has convinced people here that they could become someone. Not necessarily a footballer. It could be a doctor. Just to believe in it," said Rocio Escandell, president of the Rocafonda Neighbors Association. Her 9-year-old daughter, Abril, is following in Yamal’s footsteps. "I’ve been playing football since I was little and I’m scoring more and more goals. Later, I want to be like Lamine," she says.