Lamine Yamal, the Spanish star of the Euro Cup, turns 17

The undisputed star of La Roja and of Euro 2024 is celebrating this Saturday. The Spaniard Lamine Yamal He turns 17 this July 13th, and it seems like a small feat for someone who is marking such a great milestone in the history of our football. Both his loyal fans and those who have believed in him since he was a child, starting with his parents – the Moroccan Mounir Nasraoui and the Ecuadorian Sheila Ebana– Even his former Barça coach, Xavi Hernández, and of course the Spanish national team coach, Luis de la Fuente, are aware of how much this humble and hard-working lad raised in the Rocafonda neighbourhood has to celebrate, although the best birthday present could come tomorrow, starting at 9pm, with the exciting final match of the Eurocup that will pit Spain against England, and where all the fans hope that Lamine will shine again as he has done so far and make us winners of Eurocup 2024 with his great goals.

The first to congratulate the boy this Saturday were his parents, who shared on their respective IG accounts some tender images of Lamile Yamal when he was little.Happy birthday to my first great love! We love you so much“, said his mother. Meanwhile, his father wrote in a post: “Congratulations, my boy, I wish you many more birthdays. I wish you all the best in this life. I love you very much.“and then he wrote in a story along with a loving photo: “Always by your side, my life“. It will be difficult for them to be aware of how much their -still- child has grown in recent times, not only in age but also personally and professionally, becoming the youngest scorer in the Euro Cup, an idol already admired by greats like Messi (who gave him his blessing when he was only five months old) or Kyliam Mbappewho out of curiosity, ordered his shirt so he could have it.

“I have changed a lot, both as a person and in my way of playing. I have grown in self-confidence, in the physical aspect, I am very happy with the change I have made.“the birthday boy recently told the newspaper Brandwho was born in Esplugues de Llobregat and started playing football at the age of six, training at the Torreta de Granollers pitch. Raised in the Rocafonda neighbourhood of Mataró, he arrived at La Masía del BarÇa at the age of 7, where he soon demonstrated exceptional talent that allowed him to progress rapidly through the different categories of the Blaugrana club. His coaches did not ignore his skill with the ball, his speed or his precision in passing, as well as his desire to improve. Therefore, on April 29, 2023, at just 15 years, 9 months and 6 days, he finally made his debut in the Barcelona first team, becoming the youngest player to do so in the history of his club.

Now his boyish face, his braces and his ESO exams – which he has been taking from a distance, between Euro Cup matches – do little honour to his titanic achievements, which he lives with pride but above all with a humility that many have praised.

With just one day to go until the grand finale, and with much to celebrate, Lamine Yamal – who doesn’t have a girlfriend but has no doubt that he will get married “before he’s 26” – says that what he thinks about most is his parents: “They have suffered a lot with me. They were always by my side. They were the ones who took me to the games when I was little. When we beat France, I liked to imagine how happy they must have been because we won. And because of my goal.“. Tomorrow, without a doubt, he plans to make them happy again, and all the Spaniards who idolize him. A victory would be the best birthday present.