The equalizer by super-teen Lamine Yamal is a goal for European Championship history. The 16-year-old talks about his birthday on the final weekend – and about his mother’s dream.
After his magical goal and the European Championship record, the celebrated Lamine Yamal has no special wish for his 17th birthday – just one. “Nothing, just win, win, win,” said the super talent from FC Barcelona after his Spanish team reached the final of the European Football Championship.
One day before the final on Sunday in Berlin against England or the Netherlands, it is Yamal’s birthday. “My goal was to celebrate my birthday here in Germany,” said the star winger. He has already managed to do that thanks to the 2:1 win in the semi-final against runners-up France. A “historic Lamine Yamal” carried the team, wrote “Le Figaro”.
Thanks to his equaliser, at just 16 years and 362 days old, he became the youngest goalscorer in the tournament’s history. And not only that.
Mom is happy too
“My mother always said that it was her dream that I would score a goal at the European Championships,” said Yamal, who was named player of the match. “I’m glad that I was able to score my first goal against France in a semi-final. I’m very happy about that.”
Spain’s national coach Luis de la Fuente was delighted with the young star’s “stroke of genius”. “I would like to give him some advice: I want him to remain humble and keep his feet on the ground and to continue to improve,” said the coach. He has a team with 26 “football geniuses”.
Even Deschamps is smiling
After falling behind thanks to former Frankfurt player Randal Kolo Muani (9th minute), Yamal turned the game around with a fantastic shot (21st minute) and Leipzig’s Dani Olmo (25th minute). Despite all the disappointment, even the very disappointed French national coach Didier Deschamps smiled when asked about the goal.
“It was a wonderful shot. Really wonderful,” said Deschamps. His players had given Yamal too much space, but the shot was also perfect.
One billion?
Yamal replaced Johan Vonlanthen as the youngest European Championship goalscorer, who was 18 years and 141 days old when he scored in Switzerland’s 3-1 loss to France in 2004. “I try not to think too much, but just have fun and help the team,” said Yamal, “and if it works out like it did today, all the better.”
Yamal made his debut for Barcelona in the Spanish first division at the age of 15 and became the youngest debutant and goalscorer for the Spanish national team last year in the 7-1 win against Georgia at the age of 16 years and 57 days. His contract in Barcelona runs until 2026 and the release clause is said to be one billion euros.
Source: Stern
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