Lamine Yamal was enjoying the last few days of being 16 basking in the fame of suddenly becoming the world’s most famous teenage footballer. A fortnight ago he was preparing for school exams. Last weekend he starred in the European Championships final for Spain against England. What a contrast! Spain, of course, won 2-1. Yamal won Young Player of the Tournament and two days later Gareth Southgate resigned as England boss.
Yamal has just turned 17 and has already won more trophies than the England captain, Harry Kane. Many senior players at the Euros in Germany looked fatigued. But Lamine, fresh from playing 50 games for Barcelona and winning the La Liga U-23 Player of the Season award in 2023/24, looked anything but.
But more than his moments of magic or the stunning goal to help beat France, former England and Manchester United centre-back Ferdinand was most impressed with Yamal’s ‘simplicity’ and decision-making.
“Yamal plays like someone who has been playing for a long time. He makes the right decisions in the right moments,” Ferdinand said following Tuesday’s semi-final, speaking as a pundit on BBC One.
“The simplicity with which he plays, it is so rare. Normally you come in and you’re trying to prove yourself and you try too hard. He always makes the right decision.”
His Barca coach has described him as being “touched by God”. Well he certainly has a divine gift. There is a photo circulating now of Lamine in 2007 as a baby, shot in the Camp Nou dressing room. A young Messi, helps bathe a tiny boy, not even six months old. The baby, of course, is Lamine Yamal.
Barcelona’s past and present in Messi and Yamal will be reunited next year when they face off in the Finalissima.
Yamal was one of the best players at Euro 2024 where he was directly involved in five goals.
Messi meanwhile helped guide Argentina to defend their Copa America title - their third consecutive major tournament success. That is despite the 37-year-old being reduced to tears after picking up an ankle injury during the 1-0 final win against Colombia at the Hard Rock Stadium.
Following their respective triumph, they will now meet in the 2025 edition of Finalissima, which pits the champions of Europe and South America against each other.
Argentina are the reigning champions after beating Euro 2020 winners Italy at Wembley in 2022. And the 2025 edition will see Messi and Yamal reunite.
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