European Football Championship - "Genius" Yamal celebrates European Championship history - picture with Messi inspires
After his career-defining performance and entry into the EURO final, millions of fans of Lamine Yamal were not only interested in his dream goal - but also an incredible photo series of him as a child with Lionel Messi.
The then 20-year-old Messi holds the swaddled baby Lamine carefully in his arms in one picture, in another he bathes the surprised toddler, and in another Mama Yamal looks on. The picture was clicked millions of times on social media. Yamal's goal against France in the 2:1 - much prettier than the multiple World Footballer Messi could have shot himself
"My mother has always said that it's her dream for me to score at the EURO," said Yamal, who was named player of the match. "I'm happy that I could score my first goal against France in a semifinal." He tries to "just have fun and help the team." A fan account at X reached hundreds of thousands of people with the Yamal-Messi photo that night.
On the long way to the prestigious tournament stage, it's quite eerie that Messi came into contact with the possibly future World Footballer Yamal in the context of a photo shoot for a charity calendar as early as 2007. And it was even more symbolic. Today, Yamal, who turns 17 at the EURO final on Sunday at the Berlin Olympic Stadium, shines at the EURO as brightly as ever.
Unsettling Parallels
The parallels to Argentina's superstar Messi are so strong that a scriptwriter for a contrived story criticized by the producer would have been accused of plagiarism. Messi wore the number 19 in Barcelona at the time, Yamal now wears it in Spain's national team. Messi's glorious story with Barca is well-known. Yamal wants - under former German national coach Hansi Flick - to usher in a new era with the Catalans.
The only two players who had more than 15 chances, 15 shots, and 15 dribblings at the last two World or European championships are? Of course, Messi and Yamal. "Messi is incomparable, but Yamal is a madman of a player," said German World Cup winner Christoph Kramer. "His WM colleague Per Mertesacker evaluated the Messi-Baby-Act on ZDF as a sacrament. 'Baptized, not bathed.'
German World Cup winner praises: Always a message
After the deficit by the former Frankfurt Randal Kolo Muani (9th minute), Yamal turned the game around with a dream goal (21st) and Leipzig's Dani Olmo (25th). Before the 2:1, Yamal created the space for Olmo with a pass. "I don't just find his tempo dribblings outstanding, but that he always finds the right pass at the right moment with the right precision," said Kramer. "He always sends a message with his pass."
Top - against Rabiot?
Yamal also sends messages verbally. After his goal art in the arena, he joyfully knelt down towards the stands, his toothbrush shone in the spotlight. The message "Speak, speak" (talk and talk) was allegedly meant for the danced-out Adrien Rabiot.
"The one I spoke to knows that he meant it," Yamal replied puberty cheekily. Rabiot had said before the game that they wanted to take Yamal out of his comfort zone.
Younger than Pelé
Thanks to his equalizing goal with just 16 years and 362 days, Yamal was crowned the youngest goalscorer in tournament history. And not only that. He is also younger than Brazil's legend Pelé was when he scored his WM goal as the youngest player.
"Lamine, worldwide impact", titled the Spanish sports newspaper "Marca". A "historic Lamine Yamal" carried Spain, wrote the French daily "Le Figaro". National coach Luis de la Fuente also agreed with the immense praise. "One has seen the genius of a genius", said the 63-year-old.
Trainer's advice: "Stay humble"
The long-time coach of the youth national teams urged in this brilliant chapter of EM history, however, also for caution. "I would like to give him a piece of advice: That he remains humble and keeps both feet on the ground and continues to improve", said de la Fuente.
He has a team with 26 "football geniuses", said the coach. "The team has a great future ahead of it." Special praise also went to the still Leipzig Olmo, who is increasingly showing himself as a mega transfer in the EM showcase, for example, to Yamal's FC Barcelona or Rodri's Manchester City.
A golden generation?
After the Spanish all-conquering teams from 2008 to 2012 with Xavi, Andres Iniesta and Xabi Alonso, now Yamal, Olmo and Nico Williams want to create an era. "The golden generation had to first build the legacy", said team leader Rodri.
First, it's about the EM final. "My goal was to celebrate my birthday here in Germany", said Yamal, whose Barcelona contract runs until 2026 and is said to have an exit clause of one billion euros. For the honorary day before the final, he has no grandiose wishes, at most this: "Nothing, just win, win, win."
- Christoph Kramer praised Lamine Yamal, stating that Messi is incomparable but Yamal is a "madman of a player."
- The EURO final, taking place at the Olympic Stadium Berlin, marks Yamal's 17th birthday.
- In 2007, Lionel Messi and a young Lamine Yamal posed for a charity calendar photo shoot in Munich, Germany.
- Dani Olmo and Adrien Rabiot are other prominent soccer players participating in the European Football Championship.
- As a child, Messi cared for Lamine Yamal in a photo series, one image showing him holding the swaddled baby and another depicting him bathing the surprised toddler.
- Despite France's attempts to unsettle him, Yamal scored against them in the semifinal, helping Spain reach the EURO final.
- With 15 chances, 15 shots, and 15 dribblings, only Messi and Lamine Yamal accomplished this feat in the last two World or European championships.
- Germany's Leopold Kolo Muani initially gave France a 1-0 lead, but Yamal, Olmo, and Rabiot turned the tide for Spain.
- At just 16 years and 362 days old, Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in EURO tournament history, a record previously held by Brazil's Pele.
- Spanish media outlets such as "Marca" and "Le Figaro" hailed Yamal as a "historic" footballer after his impressive EURO performances.
- As the EURO final approaches, both Yamal and his FC Barcelona teammate Olmo have garnered attention from top Football clubs, including Manchester City.
