Spain’s forward Lamine Yamal won the Young Player of the Year after his side beat England 2-1 in the Euro 2024 final at the Olympiastadion in Berlin, Germany, on Sunday.
The Barcelona winger impressed at the European Championship with four assists, most by any player, and netted an important goal against France in the semifinal. With that strike, he became the youngest player to score in the semifial of a major men’s tournament.
“This is the best (birthday) present I could have, it’s a dream,” said Yamal after winning his first European Championship in his short career.
At 17 years and one day, he became the youngest player to feature in a men’s World Cup, European Championship or Copa América final. Yamal started every game for Spain in this tournament, with La Roja beating England 2-1 in the final.
He assisted Nico Williams in the first goal and was one of the most prominent examples of Spain’s groundwork in youth development, with the player coming off Barcelona’s youth academy La Masia.
Coach Luis de la Fuente called up Lamine for his first senior international call-up on September 1, 2023, at the age of 16 years and 50 days, for the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers against Georgia and Cyprus. Lamine made his senior debut against the former opponent seven days later, scoring in the 74th minute of a 7-1 victory.
