Lamine Yamal: The Teenage Prodigy Taking Barcelona and Spain by Storm
Lamin Yamal Biography
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana (born 13 July 2007) is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a right winger for La Liga club Barcelona and the Spain national team.
Early Beginnings and Youth Career
Born in Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, to a Moroccan father and an Equatoguinean mother, Lamine Yamal grew up in the nearby cities of Granollers and Mataró. At the tender age of seven, his family moved to the Catalonian capital, where he joined the renowned La Masia youth academy of FC Barcelona.
Meteoric Rise through the Ranks
Yamal’s talent and potential were soon recognized within the youth setup, and he rapidly progressed through the age groups. Despite being added to the Juvenil A team, already above his age grade, for the 2022–23 season, he was selected by Barcelona’s first-team coach, Xavi, to train with the senior squad in early September 2022.
Debut and Record-Breaking Exploits
Yamal’s big moment arrived on 29 April 2023, when he made his first-team debut, coming on as a substitute in a 4–0 victory against Real Betis. At just 15 years, 9 months, and 16 days old, he became the fifth youngest player in La Liga history and the youngest to appear for Barcelona’s first team since 1922.
The young winger’s rise continued, as he earned his first start for the club on 20 August 2023, becoming the youngest starter in Barcelona’s La Liga history. He followed this up with a man-of-the-match performance against Villarreal, contributing to two goals and becoming the youngest player to provide an assist in a La Liga fixture.
International Breakthrough and European Championship Debut
Yamal’s exceptional performances at the club level earned him a call-up to the Spanish national team, and at the age of 16 years and 50 days, he received his first senior international cap, scoring in a 7–1 victory over Georgia. He went on to become the youngest player and goalscorer for Spain, breaking records previously held by teammate Gavi.
Yamal’s fairytale continued as he was selected for Spain’s squad for the
Club[edit]
- As of match played 26 May 2024[64]
| Club | Season | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Barcelona Atlètic | 2022–23 | Primera Federación | 1 | 0 | – | – | 2[a] | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Barcelona | 2022–23 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | La Liga | 37 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10[b] | 0 | 2[c] | 1 | 50 | 7 | |
| Total | 38 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 51 | 7 | ||
| Career total | 39 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 54 | 7 | ||
- ^ Appearances in Primera Federación play-offs
- ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
- ^ Appearances in Supercopa de España
International[edit]
- As of match played 5 June 2024[65]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spain | 2023 | 4 | 2 |
| 2024 | 8 | 0 | |
| Total | 12 | 2 | |
- As of match played 30 June 2024.
- Spain score listed first, score column indicates score after each Yamal goal.[65]
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 September 2023 | Boris Paichadze Dinamo Arena, Tbilisi, Georgia | 1 |  Georgia |
7–1 | 7–1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
| 2 | 16 November 2023 | Alphamega Stadium, Limassol, Cyprus | 3 |  Cyprus |
1–0 | 3–1 | UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying |
