Spain’s Lamine Yamal won the European Championship and the tournament’s best young player award just a day after he turned 17. Yamal earned it mostly while he was still 16, but he crowned his contribution to Spain’s success by setting up Nico Williams’ opening goal in a 2-1 win over England in the final on Sunday.
Breaking Pele's 66-year-old record and achieving things Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo could only have dreamed of at his age. It is fair to say Lamine Yamal has shaken up the game of football in the past year, and he reached the pinnacle on Sunday (Jul 14) as he became the youngest player to win a European Championship or World Cup – at the age of 17 years and one day.
The FC Barcelona winger set up Nico Williams' opener in their 2-1 Euro 2024 final win over England, and forced Jordan Pickford into two fine saves.
Nobody was involved in more Euro 2024 goals than Yamal – with one goal and four assists. Nobody has set up more goals in a single European Championship since records began in 1980. And nobody has ever been directly involved in goals in a quarter-final, semi-final and final before Yamal achieved the feat.
Unsurprisingly, he was named the tournament's Young Player of the Tournament.
"I am very happy, this is a dream," said Yamal. "I'm looking forward to returning to Spain and celebrating with all the fans. It's the best birthday present ever."
In the last few weeks Yamal became the youngest person to play at the Euros, to assist a goal at the Euros and to score a goal at the Euros.
It is not just potential, he is already one of the most exciting players in the world.
