April 29, 2023, Camp Nou. FC Barcelona hosts Betis Seville in La Liga. In the 83rd minute, coach Xavi brings on a 15-year-old—290 days old—to replace Gavi. That evening, Lamine Yamal becomes one of the youngest players to make his league debut for the club. Three years later, he is already a two-time Kopa Trophy winner, a finalist for the 2025 Ballon d’Or, and wears the number 10 jersey for Barça.
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana was born on July 13, 2007, in Esplugues de Llobregat, a suburb just outside Barcelona. The son of a Moroccan father and an Equatorial Guinean mother, and a product of La Masia, he now embodies several things at once: the new generation of Barça, the future of Spanish soccer, and one of the earliest success stories in world soccer. This article traces his journey and his current status.
Esplugues, La Masia, Mataró
Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana was born on July 13, 2007, in Esplugues de Llobregat, a town in the western suburbs of Barcelona. His father, Mounir Nasraoui, is from Morocco. His mother, Sheila Ebana, is from Equatorial Guinea. The family later moved to Mataró, a coastal town north of Barcelona, where he began playing soccer for local clubs.
Spotted at a very young age, he joined La Masia at age 7 in 2014. His progress through FC Barcelona’s youth ranks has been steady. He plays primarily as a right winger, a position that showcases his dominant left foot and his ability to cut inside toward the center of the field. For more on Barcelona’s youth academy, see our article on La Masia.
In every Spanish youth team, Yamal has dominated his opponents with his skill and composure. His consistent dominance has caught the attention of international scouts, but he has chosen to continue his career at Barça, the club that has trained him since he was 7 years old.
His debut at age 15 in April 2023
On April 29, 2023, during the Barcelona vs. Betis (4-0) match in La Liga, Xavi decided to bring Lamine Yamal into the first team. The player was 15 years and 290 days old, making him one of the youngest players to make his debut in the Spanish league while wearing the FC Barcelona jersey. The match was played at Camp Nou, and his entrance was greeted with a long ovation from the fans.
His first start came a few months later. He scored his first La Liga goal on August 27, 2023, against Vigo, at just 16 years old. The Camp Nou then witnessed a player capable of sustaining his effort, dribbling past a senior defender, and finishing in the box. In a team rebuilding after Messi’s departure, he quickly became an indispensable starter.
In his first full season, 2023–2024, he played in 50 matches across all competitions, scored more than five goals in La Liga, and recorded numerous assists. At age 16, he established himself as one of Barça’s key offensive players—an extremely rare feat for a player of that age.
His call-up to the Spanish national team
On September 8, 2023, Lamine Yamal made his debut for the Spanish national team at the age of 16 in a match against Georgia during the Euro 2024 qualifiers. He scored on his very first appearance, becoming the youngest goalscorer in La Roja’s history. Head coach Luis de la Fuente made him a regular member of the squad.
Euro 2024 in Germany marked his international breakthrough. He was one of the key players in Spain’s run to the title, which culminated in a 2-1 victory over England in the final on July 14, 2024, in Berlin. On that occasion, Yamal became the youngest goalscorer in Euro history after his goal in the semifinal against France (16 years, 362 days).
He was named the tournament’s best young player. With four assists, spectacular dribbling, and an impressive ability to read the game, he has already become one of the key players on the European champion team at just 17 years old.
Euro 2024 and the record for the youngest player
Euro 2024 turned a rising star into a global sensation. The goal he scored on July 9, 2024, against France in the semifinals (2-1) was one of the tournament’s highlights: a curling right-footed shot into the top corner after cutting inside. The French commentator called it a move “worthy of the greatest players in the tournament’s history.”
The final victory over England—marked by a collective triumph and brilliant individual performances—has definitively established Yamal among the all-time greats. Comparisons to Lionel Messi are multiplying, subjecting him to media pressure that is unusual for a player of his age. For more on Messi’s historic legacy at Barça, see our dedicated article.
Beyond the statistics, it is the player’s maturity that stands out. He remains calm in front of the goal, makes clear-headed decisions, and has a knack for stepping up in the clutch. These qualities, combined with exceptional technical skill, have led many observers to say that he could become the best player of his generation.
2024–2025 Kopa Trophy and 2025 Ballon d’Or
In October 2024, Lamine Yamal won his first Kopa Trophy, an award presented by France Football to the world’s best player under the age of 21. At age 17, he became the second-youngest winner in the history of the award, which was created in 2018. The following year, in 2025, he won a second consecutive Kopa Trophy, becoming the first player to win the award twice.
In 2025, he also finished second in the Ballon d’Or, at just 18 years old. He is one of the youngest players in history to make it onto the podium for this prestigious award. The winner that year was Ousmane Dembélé of PSG, but the Catalan’s performance was still exceptional for his age.
These individual accolades are a testament to an already extraordinary career. No player trained at La Masia—with the exception of Messi at a different stage in his career—has achieved such a high level of international recognition so quickly. Yamal is following in the footsteps of Catalonia’s greatest talents, with a trajectory that could redefine the records for precocious talent in world soccer.
Barça's No. 10 at age 17
In the summer of 2024, FC Barcelona handed Lamine Yamal the number 10 jersey. This number, previously worn by Ronaldinho, Messi, and then Ansu Fati, is one of the most symbolically significant in the club’s history. Assigning it to a 17-year-old player is a sign of exceptional institutional trust and a clear signal of the role expected of him in the team’s plans.
In his first season wearing the number 10 jersey, 2024–2025, he lived up to all expectations. Under Hansi Flick, the German coach who replaced Xavi, Yamal became one of the team’s key tactical players. Barça won La Liga in 2024–2025 and reached the Champions League semifinals, a major achievement for a club still in the midst of financial restructuring.
The Yamal-branded jersey has become one of the club’s best-selling items, even outselling some of Messi’s older jerseys in terms of sales volume. Young fans strongly identify with a player who came up through La Masia, is their age, speaks their language, and scores in big games.
The Future: Between Anticipation and Pressure
Lamine Yamal’s future is tied to that of FC Barcelona, but also to the Spanish national team and the world of soccer as a whole. At 18, he has already won the Euro, two Kopa Trophies, and was a finalist for the Ballon d’Or. Expectations are sky-high: how many Champions Leagues? How many Ballon d’Ors? Will he be able to lead the Catalan club into a new golden age?
Comparisons to Lionel Messi are both flattering and dangerous. It took the Argentine ten years to dominate the world of soccer. Yamal could achieve that faster—or burn out. It will all depend on his ability to handle the pressure, avoid injuries, and continue to improve tactically. For more on the current state of Barça, see our article on the history of FC Barcelona.
One thing is certain: Yamal already embodies the future of the club. Along with other young players trained at La Masia—such as Pau Cubarsí, Marc Casadó, and Fermín López—he represents the hope for Catalan continuity in the post-Messi era. The renovation of Camp Nou, scheduled for June 2026, could coincide with the dawn of a new golden age led by his generation.
Key Takeaways
- Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana was born on July 13, 2007, in Esplugues de Llobregat, near Barcelona.
- He joined La Masia at the age of 7 in 2014 and made his debut for Barça’s first team on April 29, 2023, at the age of 15 years and 290 days.
- On September 8, 2023, he made his debut for Spain and scored in that very first match at the age of 16.
- He shone at Euro 2024: he was named the tournament’s best young player, became the youngest goalscorer in Euro history, and lifted the trophy on July 14, 2024, in Berlin.
- He won the Kopa Trophy in 2024 and again in 2025, becoming the first player to win the award twice.
- In the summer of 2024, he inherited the number 10 jersey at Barça, previously worn by Ronaldinho and Messi.
- In 2025, at the age of 18, he finished second in the Ballon d’Or, making him one of the youngest players ever to reach the podium.
Learn more
Lamine Yamal is part of a long Catalan tradition. To learn more, we recommend our articles on La Masia, his youth academy; on Messi, Barça’s former number 10; on the history of FC Barcelona; and on the renovated Camp Nou, which is home to the club.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Lamine Yamal?
Lamine Yamal was born on July 13, 2007, in Esplugues de Llobregat, a suburb of Barcelona. At the time of this writing (April 2026), he is 18 years old. His father is Moroccan and his mother is from Equatorial Guinea, but he has chosen to represent Spain internationally.
When did Lamine Yamal make his debut with FC Barcelona?
On April 29, 2023, during a 4-0 victory over Betis Seville in La Liga. He was 15 years and 290 days old at the time, making him one of the youngest players to make his La Liga debut for Barça. His coach at the time was Xavi Hernández.
How many Kopa Trophies has Yamal won?
Lamine Yamal won the Kopa Trophy in 2024 and again in 2025. He is the first player in history to win this award twice; it recognizes the world’s best player under the age of 21 and was established by France Football in 2018.
What role did Yamal play at Euro 2024?
Lamine Yamal was one of the key players in Spain’s victory at Euro 2024. He was named the tournament’s best young player, became the youngest goalscorer in the competition’s history (at 16 years and 362 days, scoring against France in the semifinals), and recorded four assists throughout the tournament.
Why does Yamal wear the number 10 for Barça?
In the summer of 2024, FC Barcelona handed him the number 10 jersey, previously worn by Ronaldinho, Messi, and then Ansu Fati. This is an extraordinary show of institutional confidence for a 17-year-old player, and a clear signal of the role expected of him in the Catalan club’s sporting project.
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