Lamine Yamal, rise of a Barcelona prodigy

  • Barcelona's Spanish forward Lamine Yamal prays as he enters the pitch during the Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on April 16, 2024. AFP
    Barcelona's Spanish forward Lamine Yamal prays as he enters the pitch during the Uefa Champions League quarter-final second leg against Paris Saint-Germain at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on April 16, 2024. AFP
  • “We are a very mixed community,” says Agustin Vazquez, president of Rocafonda FC, “with a lot of families of North and West African heritage, and that’s reflected at our club.” Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
    “We are a very mixed community,” says Agustin Vazquez, president of Rocafonda FC, “with a lot of families of North and West African heritage, and that’s reflected at our club.” Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
  • Lamine Yamal of Barcelona dribbles past Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain. Getty
    Lamine Yamal of Barcelona dribbles past Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain. Getty
  • Children watch on as other kids play football at Rocafonda Football Club, the hometown of Barcelona starlet Yamine Lamal. Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
    Children watch on as other kids play football at Rocafonda Football Club, the hometown of Barcelona starlet Yamine Lamal. Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
  • Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, in action against PSG's Kylian Mbappe. Yamal was substituted following Ronald Araujo's red card and Barcelona would go on to lose the match 4-1 to be eliminated from the Champions League 6-4 on aggregate. Getty
    Barcelona's Lamine Yamal, left, in action against PSG's Kylian Mbappe. Yamal was substituted following Ronald Araujo's red card and Barcelona would go on to lose the match 4-1 to be eliminated from the Champions League 6-4 on aggregate. Getty
  • A poster at the La Torreta Football Club shows a photo of Lamine Yamal when he played for the club as a junior. Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
    A poster at the La Torreta Football Club shows a photo of Lamine Yamal when he played for the club as a junior. Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
  • Lamine Yamal is Barcelona's youngest goalscorer aged 16 years and 87 days. AFP
    Lamine Yamal is Barcelona's youngest goalscorer aged 16 years and 87 days. AFP
  • Children play at the street football pitch right above Rocafonda Football Club, a place where a young Lamine Yamal honed his skills. Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
    Children play at the street football pitch right above Rocafonda Football Club, a place where a young Lamine Yamal honed his skills. Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
  • Lamine Yamal's ability to dribble past players have earned him comparisons with Lionel Messi, something not welcomed by his coach, Xavi. AFP
    Lamine Yamal's ability to dribble past players have earned him comparisons with Lionel Messi, something not welcomed by his coach, Xavi. AFP
  • Young players of La Torreta Football Club's "escuela" team (ages 4-5), wait for their turn to play. Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
    Young players of La Torreta Football Club's "escuela" team (ages 4-5), wait for their turn to play. Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
  • Lamine Yamal in action for Barcelona against Cadiz during a La Liga match at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on April 13, 2024 in Cadiz, Spain. Getty
    Lamine Yamal in action for Barcelona against Cadiz during a La Liga match at Estadio Nuevo Mirandilla on April 13, 2024 in Cadiz, Spain. Getty
  • View of a square in Rocafonda, Mataro, where Lamine Yamal played football as a child. The square has been completely remodeled and playing football here is now prohibited. The tag in the background reads "death to fascism". Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
    View of a square in Rocafonda, Mataro, where Lamine Yamal played football as a child. The square has been completely remodeled and playing football here is now prohibited. The tag in the background reads "death to fascism". Photo: Hannah Cauhepe for The National
  • Lamine Yamal graduated to Barcelona's first team from the the club's fabled La Masia academy. Getty
    Lamine Yamal graduated to Barcelona's first team from the the club's fabled La Masia academy. Getty
  • Barcelona head coach Xavi gives Lamine Yamal instructions during the Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSG. EPA
    Barcelona head coach Xavi gives Lamine Yamal instructions during the Champions League quarter-final first leg against PSG. EPA
  • Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, left, up against and Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes. AFP
    Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal, left, up against and Paris Saint-Germain defender Nuno Mendes. AFP
  • Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action against Las Palmas' Sergi Cardona. EPA
    Barcelona's Lamine Yamal in action against Las Palmas' Sergi Cardona. EPA