Barcelona Prodigy Lamine Yamal: The 17-Year-Old Phenom Shaking Up Euro 2024

Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana was born on July 13, 2007 in Esplugues de Llobregat, in the suburbs of Barcelona, to a Moroccan father, Mounir Nasraoui and an Equatorial Guinean mother, Sheila Ebana. At the age of 9, Mounir followed his mother to come to Spain, where he will later meet the woman who will become his wife, an immigrant like him. Mounir is a house painter, Sheila is a waitress at McDonald’s. At 21, the young woman gives birth to Lamine. But the couple separated in 2010. However, they did not abandon little Lamine. Sheila moved and enrolled Lamine in the Club de Futbol La Torretta in the neighboring town of Granollers, where he began his football career.

Today, Lamine is the pride of his parents, who are his first supporters. "My mother is afraid for me when I start, but she supports me a lot!" confided to Barca Universal the one who celebrated his 17th birthday during Euro 2024. "You can’t imagine how proud I am of my son. I always knew he would succeed in what he has accomplished. I had total confidence. And I have the faith that he can go all the way and be better than Messi," said Mounir, 35, who is also three years younger than his son’s teammate on the Spanish national team, Jésus Navas.

Lamine has broken all records: he is the youngest player in Euro history, youngest assist, youngest scorer, youngest winner, etc. At 17 years and one day, he became the youngest player to participate 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 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 title of best goal of the tournament. A goal scored during the semi-final between Spain and France that will end the adventure of the Blues.