Yamal becomes youngest player, scorer for Spain’s men’s senior team

Lamine Yamal, the latest hot prospect from Barcelona’s youth academy La Masia, made his debut and scored his first goal for the Spanish men’s senior national team in the 2024 UEFA European Championship qualifying tournament game against Georgia on Friday.

Yamal came on the field as a substitute in the 44th minute and scored Spain’s final goal in the 74th minute to extend their lead to 7-1. Having done so at the age of 16 years and 57 days old, he became the youngest player ever to appear and score for the senior team.

The previous record was held by Yamal’s Barca teammate Gavi who did it at 17 years and 62 days old in 2021. Yamal also broke Welsh superstar Gareth Bale’s record (17 years and 83 days old) as the youngest goalscorer in the Euro qualifying tournament.

“I am really happy to make my debut and to score,” Yamal told Teledeportes after the game. “I am living a dream. I have to thank my teammates and the coach for the confidence placed in me, as well as everyone else who has helped me along the way.”

“Already on the television he looked great, but working with him he seems even better,” Spain’s manager Luis de la Fuente said of Yamal ahead of Friday’s game. “He is a very important player for us now and I hope that will continue to be the case for many years. We’re going to give him time, he’s very young, but he’s going to contribute a lot.”

Yamal’s parents, Sheila Ebana and Mounir Nasraoui, are of Moroccan and Equatorial Guinean descent. Therefore, he could play for either of those two countries as well. He made his decision to join the Spanish national team in August after meeting delegates of the Royal Spanish Football Federation.

“You can see I am happy and satisfied with the decision. I hope to have a long career with Spain and that we win many things together,” Yamal said.