‘He’s the next superstar’: 16yo freak blows minds in Euro 2024 drama
A Spanish teenager has been branded football’s next global superstar after a freakish moment in his team’s bonkers Euro 2024 victory.
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Lamine Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in men’s European Championship history as Spain came from a goal down to knock France out of Euro 2024 on Wednesday morning in Munich.
Yamal, at the age of 16 years and 362 days, has been marked as football’s next global superstar after he scored one of the goals of the tournament.
The Barcelona winger curled in a sensational shot from 25 metres to break the previous record for youngest scorer set by Switzerland’s Johan Vonlanthen, who was 18 years and 141 days old when he scored at Euro 2004.
His goal transformed the match and, just four minutes later, Spain snatched the lead and held on to win 2-1 in a thriller.
Yamal had already set the record as the youngest player to feature in the tournament when he was selected to start Spain’s opening group game against Croatia.
He beat Polish international Kacper Kozlowski, who played at Euro 2020 at 17 years and 246 days old.
Norway’s Isabell Herlovsen holds the record for the youngest women’s goalscorer. She was 16 years and 351 days old when she struck at Euro 2005
Yamal will celebrate his 17th birthday the day before the Euro 2024 final on Monday morning (AEST).
“Win, win, win and win. That was my goal, to have my birthday in Germany,” he said.
“We were a goal down and I just got the ball, I didn’t think about it much and then shot towards the goal.”
English legend Gary Lineker said on the BBC: “The kid is the next superstar.
“A superstar is born. There is no denying who the star was tonight.”
Socceroos legend Craig Foster wrote on Twitter: “Oh. My. Word. Exquisite. One for the ages from 16yo Yamal”.
Sky Sports’ Nick Wright said: “That is just ridiculous. The youngest player ever to feature at a European Championship is now the youngest player ever to score at a European Championship. It’s an absolutely sensational strike. Extraordinary. What a talent.”
Former England defender Micah Richards told the BBC: “Yamal is just an outstanding young talent and could he live up the expectation? Yes he can.
“The technique, the bend, the curve, the pace of the ball. Everything was just perfection.”
Manchester United legend Rio Ferdinand said in commentary: We’ve been asking, have Spain got the resilience? If a team scores against them, what can they do?
“They have shown it today, with this kid [Yamal] doing unprecedented stuff at that age too.”
Former Celtic striker Chris Sutton said on BBC radio: “That moment from Lamine Yamal with a brilliant finish - people will be talking about it for years to come”.
Trailing after Randal Kolo Muani headed in a Kylian Mbappe cross in the ninth minute, Spain turned the match around in a four-minute period, scoring twice against a side who had only conceded once in five previous games in this tournament.
Spain took the lead on 25 minutes, Dani Olmo expertly gathering a loose ball and firing a low shot into the net with the aid of a deflection off Jules Kounde.
Masters of midfield game management, Spain shut up shop after taking the lead, frequently holding possession rather than attack on the counter, controlling the match and claiming the win.
Three-time champions Spain became the first team to win six games at a Euros and are one game away from a record-breaking fourth crown.
Finalists in three of the past four major tournaments, questions will be asked of how France failed to click up front despite boasting enviable attacking riches.
Spain will face England or the Netherlands in Monday morning’s final.
Originally published as ‘He’s the next superstar’: 16yo freak blows minds in Euro 2024 drama
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