CONSIDERED AS MESSI

“Lamine Yamal is only 12 years old but could cause Barcelona headaches in the coming years. This boy is likened to a copy of Lionel Messi in every aspect: dribbling, one-touch rebounding and finishing.

In the opening match of U13 La Liga, Lamine Yamal scored a goal in Messi style. This is considered the most promising player of the academy, but will Barcelona be able to keep Yamal when this boy turns 16? That’s something the club leaders will have to worry about.”

This is Marca’s comment in 2019, the time when Lamine Yamal began to be mentioned for his superstar qualities that were gradually revealed in the Barcelona U13 team. And then 4 years later, Barca leaders helped Marca get the answer to the above question, with a contract extension with Lamine Yamal until 2026, with a break clause worth 1 billion euros.

Don’t be surprised by Yamal’s explosive performance at Euro 2024, because previously in the 2023/24 season, this midfielder soon became a mainstay of Barcelona when he was just 16 years old.

Statistics show that Lamine Yamal played 50 matches, had 7 goals, and 10 assists for Barca last season. In La Liga, this player appeared in 37/38 rounds, and in the Champions League, Yamal was used in all 10 of Barcelona’s matches.

BREAKING RONALDO’S RECORD

Lamine Yamal’s story at Euro 2024 is associated with the word “record”.

On the field in the opening match against Croatia, this young man became the youngest player to play at the Euro at the age of 16 years and 338 days, breaking the previous record of Kacper Kozłowski (Poland). And on this day, Lamine Yamal also broke the record for the youngest player to assist with a pass for senior Dani Carvajal to score.

By the time he appeared in the 1/8 round, Lamine Yamal became the youngest player to participate in the knockout round of a Euro, breaking the record of Jude Bellingham (England).

Not stopping there, with 3 assists in matches against Croatia, Georgia and Germany, Lamine Yamal also officially became the teenage player with the most assists in the history of the tournament, surpassing the achievement created by Ronaldo. at Euro 2004 (2 assists). This guy also became the fourth Spanish player to have 3 assists in 1 Euro, on par with Cesc Fàbregas (2008), David Silva (2012) and Dani Olmo (2021).

And then in the semi-finals against France, Lamine Yamal continued to set a new record: Youngest player to score at Euro – 16 years and 360 days.

Lamine Yamal’s superb long-range shot helped Spain come from behind to beat France 2-1.

TAKE THE ROAD LIKE PELE

In a bakery in Rocafonda – a neighborhood in Mataro, a coastal city near Barcelona – a replica of the World Cup trophy is placed next to cakes. “It’s for when my nephew wins the World Cup,” shared Mr. Abdul, the bakery owner.

Abdul’s nephew is none other than Lamine Yamal.

From the moment Lamine Yamal joined Barcelona’s first team, debuted and scored for Spain when he just passed his 16th birthday, this player has become a source of pride at Rocafonda. Everyone here has a story about Lamine Yamal to tell.

A man outside the park introduced himself as living in the same building as Mounir, Lamine Yamal’s father.

A bar owner proudly displays a shirt signed by Lamine Yamal, and this is also a place frequented by Mr. Mounir.

A hairdresser boasted that he cut Lamine Yamal’s grandmother’s hair, and another elderly woman said that her grandson had studied at the same school as the Barcelona star.

Everyone in Rocafonda talks about Lamine Yamal. And conversely, this midfielder also always remembers where he grew up. Every time he scores a goal, Yamal often celebrates by signaling the number 304 with his hand. These are the last 3 digits of the postal code of Rocafonda’s hometown.

Lamine Yamal’s 304 sign celebration style.

Since Lamine Yamal became famous, Uncle Abdul’s bakery has gradually become a place where people gather to watch Barca and Spain matches. “If you’re in Rocafonda, you can’t miss this bakery,” ESPN wrote.

And here, in addition to a copy of the World Cup gold trophy, there are also some memorabilia about Lamine Yamal. That is the U13 La Liga 2019 top scorer trophy; is a banner with the date April 29, 2023 and the time 83:48, the time Lamine debuted for the Barcelona first team; and much more.

“When he was 6 years old, we received a report from a scout in Mataro,” Jordi Roura, former director of Barça’s academy, told ESPN. “He told us about a boy who was different from everyone his age and asked us to follow him.

“A few days later, after reading the reports, we invited Lamine and some other kids to a game at Ciutat Esportiva to watch. This boy impressed with his good ball control, had high speed and played very confidently. We decided to bet on Lamine Yamal right from that moment.

Meanwhile, former Barça sporting director Ramon Planes shared:

“The most amazing and remarkable thing about Lamine is his football intelligence. Lamine plays like no one else. People classify this guy as a winger, but he can play anyone. Any position you want.

He is a complete footballer, no doubt about it. He’s a great kid, with a great personality for a 16-year-old.”

Pele won the 1958 World Cup at the age of 17.

In the history of world football, there are only two players who shined brightly at the age of 16 in this way. One is Lamine Yamal, and the other is “The King of Soccer” Pele.

Pele first joined the Brazilian national team on July 7, 1957 at the age of 16 years and 9 months and immediately scored in his debut match against Argentina. In June 1958, Pele shocked everyone when he scored 6 goals at the World Cup, making a great contribution to helping Brazil win the world championship for the first time.

Lamine Yamal is now very close to his first major title with the national team, when Spain is in the Euro 2024 final.

And looking at the performance of this 16-year-old young star, perhaps everyone hopes that Lamine Yamal will keep his feet firmly on the ground, will continue to bring many top moments in the future, and will gradually Gradually entering the temple of football legends.

Can a 16 year old boy do this? The whole football world will wait together.