Spanish wonderkid Lamine Yamal becomes the YOUNGEST player in history to feature at the European Championships…. as he’s picked to start against Croatia in Germany
Spanish winger Lamine Yamal has become the youngest player ever to take part in the European Championship.
Yamal broke through at Barcelona last season and made his debut at the age of 15.
The winger has quickly developed into a key player for the Catalan giants and was called up to the national team for the first time in September 2023 before scoring on his debut against Georgia. This meant that the striker became the youngest player to ever play and score for La Roja.
And at 16 years old and 338 years old, Yamal has broken another record. He is the youngest player to ever play at the European Championship, after being named XI against Croatia in Spain.
The record was previously held by Polish and Brighton midfielder Kacper Kozłowski, who played against Spain at Euro 2020 at the age of 17 years and 246 days.
England star Jude Bellingham is third after playing against Croatia in the same year at the age of 17 years and 349 days.
The Dutchman Jetro Williams, the Belgian Enzo Scifo and the German Jamal Musiala complete the list.
Meanwhile, Yamal recently announced that he has taken his homework to Euro 2024.
“I brought my homework here because I’m in the fourth year of ESO,” he said.
‘I also have online lessons and they are going well. I hope the teacher doesn’t get mad at me.’
The ESO refers to the third stage of the Spanish education system, where it is compulsory for students between the ages of 12 and 16.
On the pitch, Yamal comes into the tournament on the back of a productive club season for Barcelona, where he scored five goals and eight assists, with former boss Xavi relying on him regularly.
The 16-year-old is one of a number of talented youngsters in La Roja’s squad for the 2024 European Championships and will become the youngest ever player to play at the Euros if he attends.
Joining him is 21-year-old Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams, and Yamal’s Barcelona teammate Pau Cubarsi, 17, was included in De La Fuente’s provisional 29-man squad for the tournament before being dropped.
.
