Lamine Yamal’s incredible equaliser was the turning point as Spain quickly recovered from a 1-0 deficit against France in the Euro 2024 semi-finals. Spain’s young prodigy, Lamine Yamal, has consistently broken records throughout the 2024 European Championship. His debut match against Croatia saw him become the youngest player ever to compete in the Euros at just 16 years and 338 days old. He also became the youngest player to provide an assist in the tournament on that day. While a goal eluded him then, Yamal saved his historic moment for a spectacular occasion.
Lamine Yamal’s celebration after scoring Spain’s first goal in the Euro 2024 semi-final against France was a sight to behold. (AFP) Lamine Yamal’s celebration after scoring Spain’s first goal in the Euro 2024 semi-final against France was a sight to behold. (AFP) This moment arrived on Tuesday during Spain’s semi-final clash with France. France took an early lead with Randal Kolo Muani’s goal in the eighth minute, set up by a precise cross from captain Kylian Mbappe. Spain struggled until Yamal’s moment of brilliance.
After intercepting a pass from Dani Olmo, William Saliba inadvertently set up Yamal, who found himself outside the box. Faced with Adrien Rabiot and Saliba, who had previously challenged the teenager’s prowess, Yamal made a quick move to his left. As Rabiot and Saliba attempted to follow, Yamal expertly shifted again, creating space to unleash a curling shot that sailed past French goalkeeper Mike Maignan into the net.
Watch the remarkable goal here:
Breaking Pele’s Record With this goal, Yamal surpassed a record held by Pele since 1958, becoming the youngest player to score in a major international tournament. Interestingly, Yamal had scored a similar goal against France in the Under-17 Euros semi-final the previous year.
Spain’s coach, Luis de la Fuente, praised Yamal’s extraordinary talent, calling his goal “a touch of genius.”
“We all recognize his talent. It’s crucial to nurture him,” de la Fuente stated. “He must continue to work with humility, keep his feet on the ground, and maintain his commitment to improving. Despite his youth, he shows remarkable maturity and professionalism on the pitch. I’m thrilled that he’s part of our team and look forward to seeing his continued growth in the years to come,” he added.
