On the eve of the Euro 2024 final, Spain’s youngest-ever player, Lamine Yamal, celebrated his 17th birthday with his teammates during their final training session. The Barcelona winger, who has been the breakout star of the tournament, enjoyed a low-key celebration as the team prepares to face England in the championship match.
Teammate Dani Olmo had previously told the Spanish press about plans for a “little party” with cake and song. True to his word, Yamal was presented with a large cake covered in candles during Saturday’s training session. The young star gave a short speech to his teammates, expressing his happiness at spending his birthday with the team and his desire for the ultimate birthday present – victory over England in the final.
Yamal’s incredible performances throughout Euro 2024 have broken several records. His stunning goal in the semi-final against France made him the youngest-ever goalscorer in a European Championship. By starting that match, he also surpassed Pelé’s 67-year-old record as the youngest player to appear in a major tournament semi-final.
The Spanish press has enthusiastically celebrated Yamal’s birthday, with leading sports newspapers Marca and AS featuring him prominently on their front pages. Marca ran with a quote from Yamal about his mother still telling him not to go barefoot, while AS showcased a picture of Yamal sharing a cake with fellow young star Nico Williams, who turned 22 on Friday.
Dani Olmo praised his young teammate, saying, “Lamine is an amazing player. He has shown already what, at 16 years, I think not many players in history did.” The sentiment is echoed throughout the Spanish camp, with the team hoping to cap off Yamal’s birthday weekend by securing their first major trophy since 2012 – when Yamal was just five years old.
As Spain prepares for the final against England, all eyes will be on the birthday boy to see if he can add to his growing list of accomplishments and help deliver a championship to his country. The match promises to be a fitting climax to what has been a remarkable tournament for both Yamal and the Spanish national team.
Source: Daily MailOnline
