At just 16 years and 338 days old, Lamine Yamal etched his name into European Championship history books as the youngest player to feature in a men’s Euro tournament, starting in Spain’s group stage clash against Croatia.
The Barcelona prodigy, already Spain’s youngest-ever player and goalscorer since his debut in a Euro 2024 qualifier last September, continues to break records.
Having made 51 appearances for Barcelona and scoring seven goals, Yamal made headlines as La Liga’s youngest goalscorer and the youngest starter in a Champions League match at the tender age of 15.
Yamal surpassed the previous Euro youngest player record held by Poland’s Kacper Kozlowski by about nine months. Kozlowski had set the record at 17 years and 246 days during Euro 2020, briefly overtaking England’s Jude Bellingham, who was 17 years and 349 days old at Euro 2020.
Despite his young age, Yamal’s maturity on the field was evident as he assisted Dani Carvajal for Spain’s third goal in a resounding 3-0 victory over Croatia. This also makes him the youngest to assist a goal at the championship.
🥇🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal becomes youngest player ever to record an assist at the Euros. pic.twitter.com/7gvyHjgVJE
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) June 15, 2024
Alvaro Morata and Fabian Ruiz had earlier scored in the 29th and 32nd minutes respectively, securing a commanding win for La Roja in their opening game of Euro 2024.
With their emphatic start, Spain, three-time European champions with their last triumph coming 12 years ago, aim to reclaim the trophy for a record fourth time.
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The victory against Croatia not only showcased Spain’s depth but also highlighted Yamal’s potential to become a key figure in their Euro 2024 campaign.
As Spain progresses in the tournament, all eyes will be on Lamine Yamal, who continues to defy expectations and make a significant impact on the international stage at such a young age.
