Barcelona Prodigy Lamine Yamal Commits to Spain Over Morocco for Euro 2024

With a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, Lamine Yamal was born in Spain and grew up in the Rocafonda neighborhood, that suburb of Mataró where children play in the street after school. Yamal joined the Masia, Barcelona’s academy, at the age of seven, without even taking a test, after spending two years at CF La Torreta de Granollers. Very early on, he revealed his talent, to the point of being called the "new Messi".

Yamal has just completed his first professional season with the Barça first team. An exceptional season personally, but disappointing collectively, as Barça did not win any titles. "We were not able to be consistent. To win the Liga, the Champions League, the Copa del Rey or the Spanish Super Cup, you have to be consistent, and that’s what we lacked," he explains in an interview with GQ.

The young striker made his debut for the first team against Real Betis on April 29, 2023, becoming at 15 the youngest player in Barça’s history to play an official match. "It was an incredible feeling, a very special moment," he confides. Yamal also became the youngest player to make his debut in La Liga, to play and score for the Spanish senior team, and to score during a European Cup qualifying phase. "It’s a source of pride... What’s happening to me is something unique."

Yamal also discussed his choice of sporting nationality. "I never had any doubt. I always knew I wanted to play in a European Championship and a World Cup with the Spanish team," said the young striker, who declined Morocco’s proposal to join the Atlas Lions. Yamal is also preparing for the European Cup with La Roja, his first major international tournament, which he hopes to win.

At Barça, Yamal will have to win the trust of the new coach, the German Hansi Flick, who has just succeeded Xavi Hernandez. At 16, Lamine Yamal earns a salary of around 1.6 million euros per year and has an advertising contract with Adidas. But the Barcelona striker keeps his head on his shoulders. "I prefer to buy something for my parents or invite my friends than to buy sneakers. Seeing them happy fills me up and makes me happier."