Spain prodigy Lamine Yamal said winning Euro 2024 was the best birthday gift he could have asked for as the teenager capped a memorable tournament by walking off with the Best Young Player award.
Yamal, who turned 17 a day before Sunday's final, was one of the stars of the tournament as Spain claimed a historic fourth European Championship title with a 2-1 win over England in Berlin.
Spain set a new record by winning all seven of their games at the Euros, with Yamal providing some memorable moments including one of the goals of the tournament in the 2-1 win over France in the semi-finals.
He played an important part in the final, too, supplying the assist for Nico Williams to fire in Spain's opening goal.
“This is the best [birthday] gift I could have asked for. It’s a dream come true,” Yamal said. “It got tough when they tied the score, but I don’t know what this team is made of because we always fight back.”
England substitute Cole Palmer had equalised for England, but Mikel Oyarzabal clinched Spain’s win in the 86th.
Yamal set up Williams to score in the 47th minute by drifting inside Luke Shaw and playing the ball across to the left for the Athletic Bilbao winger to hit first time inside the far post. Yamal also brought two good saves from England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford.
“Lamine is incredible, as you’ve all seen during this tournament,” Williams said. “The sky’s the limit for him. As well as being a good player, he’s also a great person.”
Player ratings
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SPAIN RATINGS: A great night for Basques and not just Spaniards. Far quieter than his opposite number as Spain had 63 per cent of possession and six shots on target to England’s three as a Spanish side won their 27th consecutive final in club and national team football. Spain now sit alone with four European championship titles and Simon, beaten by a deflection for the goal, pushed away Rice’s header in the 90th minute to help their cause. AP -
Back in the side after being suspended for the semi-final, the 32 year old Real Madrid man crossed well and was involved in the opening goal, but was also robbed by his teammate Bellingham, which led to one England chance. AP -
Recalled after serving his suspension, the Real Sociedad man couldn’t get his foot around a 13th-minute ball close to England’s goal. Excellent in the air. PA -
A comfortable evening against an unfit-looking Kane. More touches than any player on the pitch – and a higher passing accuracy, too, for a team that won all seven tournament games. EPA -
Booed again by the Germans in the crowd, but he crossed beautifully to set up Oyarzabal’s winner. EPA -
Juan Mata said of him: ‘In Rodri’s position there is no other like him. He gives options to everyone and he gives the forward players the security not to look back. He is amazing.’ Quite – and yet Spain initially improved after he went off injured and went ahead. Then England equalised. Rightly congratulated by a gracious Gareth Southgate afterwards. AP -
Spain’s surprise performer in the tournament for the bold side that dominated possession, pressed and had individual skills. His half-volley went over after 70 minutes. AP -
Great chance after 49 minutes from near the penalty spot. Smart first touch, then he dragged the ball wide. He also cleared a 90th-minute Guehi effort off the line. Getty Images -
Work cut out against Shaw, though he did get behind him in the build-up to Spain’s 47th-minute opener, passing to Williams. On the day after his 17th birthday, he missed a clear 83rd-minute chance. Also had a 66th-minute shot saved by the diving Pickford. Getty Images -
Man of the match. Man of the tournament for many. An early danger, one of the stars of Euro 2024 saw an effort well blocked by Stones. Put his side ahead after being set up by Yamal. AFP -
Spain’s captain dropped deeper to get the ball, making him less of a threat, though he got behind Guehi to shoot wide on 55, a minute after a 20-yard shot was blocked. Getty Images -
SUBS: (On for Rodri, 46') Spain’s subs again showed their importance. Won the ball from Palmer on 82, which led to an attack and almost a goal. Reuters -
(On for Morata, 68') He’ll forever be remembered as the man who got the winner in a European final, sliding an 86th-minute cross past Pickford from six yards out. Only had eight touches, but two of them were shots on target. Getty Images -
(On for Le Normand, 83') EPA -
(On for Yamal, 89') AP -
ENGLAND RATINGS: A couple of good saves from Yamal to keep his side in it. His distribution was poor, though. He sprayed long balls that handed Spain possession when England needed it most. EPA -
After a bright start, his worst performance of the tournament. Won a couple of foot races to show he hasn’t lost his pace but was all at sea for Williams’ opener and out of position for Spain’s winner. Getty Images -
A monster at the heart of defence. Time and again he rescued his team. Threaded passes forward and carried the ball into midfield as he does for Man City. Unlucky to have played Oyazabal onside. Got better and better as the tournament progressed as he shook off the rust from his injury. AP -
Good positioning and reading of the game. Made several excellent blocks and played some probing passes. Had a header cleared off the line by Olmo late on as he raided forward in search of an equaliser. Should be a fixture in England's defence for years to come. EPA -
Barring one mistake, he was superb given he was returning from a long spell out. Just one lapse against Yamal in the lead-up to Spain’s opener but, that’s all it takes against a top-quality team. Showed what England were have been missing on the left-hand side. PA -
A disappointing game. Sloppy with his passing when his team needed to keep possession. Good steal from Williams as he broke into the box. Forced a good save from Simon at the death. AFP -
Looked a little overrun and overawed at times. Had to concentrate mostly on defensive duties. Beautiful tackle to dispossess Olmo on the edge of the area. Lovely quick feet under pressure in one attack. Misplaced a few passes, which his side could ill afford. His time will come. AP -
Lively and sharp. Excellent pass to slip Walker free into the box. Fantastic work in setting up Palmer’s goal. One of England’s best players again. AFP -
Not his best game but showed flashes. Did well to set up Kane just before half time. Brilliant turn and strike on the edge of the area. Careless passing at times but laid on a lovely cushioned pass for Palmer to score. Looked tired. EPA -
Despite being given licence to roam, he didn’t have the impact he did against the Netherlands as Spain denied him space. Lovely layoff to Bellingham. Really inventive snap shot at the back post from a free kick just before the break. AFP -
Maybe the end of the line for England’s record goal scorer at major tournaments – in the starting XI, at least. Far too static yet again. A poor tournament despite his three goals. The only possible excuse is that he was carrying an injury, in which case, why was he starting? AP -
SUBS: (On for Kane, 60’) What a difference he made with his running and energy up front. He unsettled the Spain defence and gave his side options. A poor touch when put in by Bellingham at the end meant he couldn't repeat his semi-final heroics. Getty Images -
(On for Mainoo, 69’) The lad is a game-changer. Alongside Watkins, he galvanised England. The finish for his goal was sheer quality. Should have had more time on the pitch during the tournament. Getty Images -
(On for Foden, 89’) PA
Yamal, the son of a Moroccan father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea, became the youngest player to appear at the European Championship, the youngest to score in the tournament, and the youngest to play in a final.
Yamal plays for Barcelona, following in the footsteps of his hero, Lionel Messi, after coming through the club's famed La Masia training academy. He is the club's and the Spanish league's youngest goalscorer as well as the Spanish national team.
He finished with four assists and one goal in his debut European Championship.
Man-of-the-match Williams dedicated the win to his parents and said there was a "historical change" in the Spanish national team.
The 22-year-old winger, who like Yamal celebrated a birthday in the build up to the final, is also the son of immigrants.
Williams' parents arrived as refugees in northern Spain from Ghana and his older brother Inaki represents the African nation.
"My family has fought for this moment. This is for all of them, everyone who believed in me from the very beginning," said Williams.
"My parents have suffered a lot to get here, they've suffered the most and have instilled this respect and loyalty in me.
"At the end of the day I think footballers have a lot of impact in society and I'm really happy because we're making history."
Asked if Spain were now favourites for the 2026 World Cup, Williams replied that the immediate focus was on savouring their success in Germany.
"First of all, we need to enjoy this victory at the Euros," he said.
"Two years, two very long years, but we will take things step by step."
While Spain’s exhilarating youngsters led the charge to a record fourth European Championship, it fell to a player who has lived through the hard side of football to clinch the title.
What Oyarzabal lacks in panache he more than makes up for in his work-ethic.
“I don’t know if it was karma, fate or who knows what, but something put me in that position to score that goal,” Oyazarbal said.
Oyarzabal, a 27-year-old striker for Real Sociedad, has been a regular for Spain both under coach De la Fuente and his predecessor, Luis Enrique.
He missed out on the 2022 World Cup in Qatar due to a knee injury but made notable impacts off the bench for La Roja, none more so than in Sunday's final.
“After my injury, I am so fortunate to be able to feel this immense joy after having gone through what I went .through, I am just incredibly happy and proud,” Oyarzabal said. “It fell to me to score the winner, but it could have been any of my teammates.
“We have been here 45 days, giving it our all, and we feel like we are a family.”
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said he was proud of his team, widely considered the best at the tournament.
"This group of players can keep growing and improving because they don't get tired of it, of competing, of trying to win, of making you proud of them, from the first day until the last, now," added the coach.
"I am happy for my country, for Spain, for the excitement we generated and I hope [people] feel the same pride, thanks to all these footballers."
