Who is Lamine Yamal - Spain's teen sensation at Euro 2024?

Yamal scored one of the goals of the tournament in 2-1 win over France in Euro semi-final on Tuesday

Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his team's first goal in their 2-1 Euro 2024 semi-final victory against France at the Munich Football Arena on July 9, 2024. AFP

France goalkeeper Mike Maignan is beaten by a shot from Lamine Yamal for Spain's opening goal. AFP

Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates scoring his team's first goal. AFP

Spain's Lamine Yamal is buried under teammates after scoring their first goal. PA

Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his side's equaliser. AP

Dani Olmo of Spain celebrates after scoring his side's second goal. Getty Images

Jules Kounde of France deflects a shot from Spain's Dani Olmo into the net. Getty Images

Dani Olmo of Spain scores his team's second goal via a deflection. Getty Images

Dani Olmo's shot is deflected by France's Jules Kounde for Spain's second goal. Getty Images

Spain's Lamine Yamal celebrates after scoring his side's first goal with teammate Jesus Navas. PA

Lamine Yamal of Spain scores his team's first goal. Getty Images

Randal Kolo Muani of France scores their opening goal. EPA

Randal Kolo Muani celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Kylian Mbappe. Getty Images

France's Randal Kolo Muani celebrates scoring their opening goal. Reuters

Randal Kolo Muani of France scores his team's opener. Getty Images

Spain teenager Lamine Yamal lived up to his reputation as one of the most gifted young players in world football and a superstar of the future as his wonder strike secured a 2-1 win over France in the European Championship semi-final.

Yamal eclipsed Brazilian great Pele to become the youngest player to score in a major tournament with a stunning 21st-minute strike from around 25 yards that sailed into the top corner past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan, helping Spain rally from a goal down.

Yamal entered the Euros with a number of 'youngest to' records next to his name. The Barcelona sensation had already made a name for himself as the youngest player to debut and score in La Liga at just 15 years of age, the youngest to start in the Champions League and also score for Spain.

It was only matter of time before he replicated it at the highest levels of international football.

How old is Lamine Yamal?

Yamal is 16 years and 362 days old, as of Wednesday. He broke the record of the previous youngest scorer at a Euros – Switzerland's Johan Vonlanthen, who scored against France in 2004 at the age of 18 years and 141 days.

Yamal will turn 17 on July 13, a day before the Euro 2024 final in Berlin against either England or the Netherlands.

Yamal's background

Yamal was born in Catalonia and grew up in Granollers and Mataro. He has a special connection with the place he grew up – Rocafonda, on Catalonia’s Maresme coast and on the edge of Mataro.

His unique celebration pays homage to his home – a 3-0-4 sign in reference to the postcode of where he grew up. When Yamal was seven years old, his family moved to Barcelona where he joined Barcelona's youth academy.

There, former Barca manager Xavi spotted Yamal among the academy cadets (the 14-15 year olds) and promptly invited him to train with first team. He was fast tracked to the senior Barca team within a year, bypassing the tier system that even the great Lionel Messi had to go through. And he has not looked back since.

Yamal's family and religion

Yamal’s father Mounir was born in Morocco and mother Sheila in Equatorial Guinea. His paternal family members are Muslim.

What they said

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said Yamal is a "genius" after being named named player of the match against France.

"We have seen a genius, the product of a genius," De la Fuente said. "He's a player we have to take care of – I have to give him the advice to keep working with the same humility and keep his feet on the floor.

"He would keep growing but this maturity and attitude at such a young age is like that of a more experienced player. We are lucky he is Spanish and we can enjoy him for many more years."

The Messi connection

Yamal has long been compared the other young sensation who burst onto the scene at Barcelona – Messi. And as it turns out, they did cross paths at Barca.

Recently, Yamal's father Mounir posted a photo on social media showing a young Messi holding a baby for a charity calendar that was made almost 16 years ago. The baby in the photo is Yamal.

There, Barcelona players posed with children and their families for a calendar as part of an annual charity event by local newspaper and Unicef. Messi was 20 years old at the time.