He’s 16, and I’m old
What were you doing in the summer when you were 16 years old? Washing cars, maybe working at the local movie theater to pick up some change without having to ask your parents? What about scoring one of the best goals of the Euros to tie you with France in the semifinals? Any takers there?
Well that just happened for 16-year-old Spanish forward Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest goalscorer in Euros history with this banger against France in the semifinals.
This goal is an absolute stunner, curling in off the left post beautifully from distance. Expected goals gave this a 2% chance of going in, yet that’s nothing for Yamal, who gave the early spark Spain needed against the French. Yamal joins a star studded group of players as the youngest to score in the Euros and World Cup:
16 – Youngest players in history to score in EURO + World Cup:
1 – LAMINE YAMAL (16 years and 362 days).
2 – Pelé (17 years and 239 days)
3 – Manuel Rosas (18 years and 93 days)
4 – Gavi (18 years and 110 days)
Diamond. pic.twitter.com/3u3CET1pTm
— OptaJose (@OptaJose) July 9, 2024
Yamal has been one of the best players of this entire tournament, regardless of age. The Barcelona player leads the entire tournament in assists and is fifth in dribbles, but more importantly has given the Spaniards a shot of youth and energy that has taken them to the semifinals. His pace down the right side of the pitch gives width so players like Alvaro Morata and Dani Olmo can get inside and get shots on goal, but Yamal could also just do it himself like he did on that firecracker.
Expect to see more of that from the wunderkind not only in the rest of this tourney, but professionally for years to come.
