If you are a fan of football, you have probably heard of Lamine Yamal, the 15-year-old sensation who made his debut for Barcelona on April 29, 2023. Yamal became the youngest player to ever play in La Liga, breaking a record that had stood for more than a century. But who is Lamine Yamal and how did he rise to fame so quickly?
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana was born on July 13, 2007 in Barcelona, Spain. His parents are of Moroccan and Cameroonian descent, and he has dual citizenship. He started playing football at a young age, showing exceptional talent and flair. He joined Barcelona's youth academy, La Masia, when he was nine years old, and quickly impressed his coaches and teammates with his skills and attitude.Yamal is a left-footed winger who can play on either flank or as a second striker. He is known for his speed, dribbling, vision, creativity and finishing. He has been compared to Lionel Messi and Ansu Fati, two of Barcelona's greatest ever players who also made their debuts as teenagers. Yamal idolizes Messi and has said that he wants to follow in his footsteps.
Yamal's breakthrough season came in 2022-23, when he scored 25 goals and provided 15 assists in 30 games for Barcelona's under-19 team. He also made his debut for Spain's under-17 national team, scoring four goals in six games. His performances caught the eye of Barcelona's first-team manager, Xavi Hernandez, who decided to promote him to the senior squad in April 2023.
Yamal made his debut against Real Betis at Camp Nou, coming on as a substitute for Gavi in the 86th minute. He received a standing ovation from the fans and almost scored with his first touch, but his shot was saved by the goalkeeper.
He became the youngest player to ever play in La Liga, aged 15 years, 9 months and 16 days. Only three younger players have represented Barcelona in their history: Armand Martínez-Sagi in 1920 (14 years, 6 months and 16 days), Carles Comamala in 1903 (14 years, 7 months and 5 months), and Paulino Alcántara in 1912 (15 years, 4 months and 18 days).
Xavi praised Yamal after the game, saying that he is "special" and has "innate talent" comparable to Messi. He also said that Yamal has "no fear" and "bags of talent" and that he can "mark an era" at Barcelona. Yamal thanked Xavi for the opportunity and said that he was living a dream.
Yamal is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in world football and has attracted interest from several top clubs. However, he has said that he wants to stay at Barcelona and win trophies with them. He has a contract with Barcelona until 2026, with a release clause of €300 million.
Yamal will turn 16 in July 2023, which means he will be eligible to play more regularly for Barcelona's first team next season. He will also be able to sign a professional contract with them. He has already made history at Barcelona, but he has a bright future ahead of him.
