Spain triumphed over Croatia with a 3-0 victory in Berlin, marking a historic moment for Barcelona teenager Lamine Yamal, who became the youngest player ever to feature in the European Championship on Saturday during Spain’s Group B match.
At just 16 years and 338 days old, Yamal shattered the previous record held by Poland’s Kacper Kozłowski, who was 17 years and 246 days old when he played against Spain at Euro 2020 (held in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic). This achievement adds to the lineage of young talents breaking records at the Euros, with England’s Jude Bellingham and Netherlands’ Jetro Willems having previously set the benchmarks.
Yamal’s performance was not just about setting records. He contributed significantly to Spain’s victory by assisting their third goal, delivering a superb cross to Dani Carvajal. Carvajal, in turn, became Spain’s oldest goal scorer in the tournament at 32 years old. Captain Álvaro Morata and Fabián Ruiz also found the net, helping Spain dominate the first half. However, the second half remained largely uneventful.
Yamal’s historic appearance is the latest in a series of age-related records for the young talent, with more potentially on the horizon during Euro 2024. Should he score during the finals, he would become the youngest scorer in the competition’s history, surpassing Switzerland’s Johan Vonlanthen, who was 18 years and 141 days old when he scored at Euro 2004, shortly after England’s Wayne Rooney had set the record.
Jude Bellingham currently holds the record for the youngest player to feature in a knockout game at 18 years and four days, slightly younger than Spain’s Pedri and Germany’s Jamal Musiala at Euro 2020. Additionally, Portugal’s Renato Sanches is the youngest player to have played in a final at 18 years and 328 days old. Yamal, who will turn 17 the day before the final in Berlin, has the opportunity to set new benchmarks if Spain progresses.
Already, Yamal has established himself as the youngest player to start and score in La Liga and the youngest player to appear in a Champions League knockout game earlier this year against Napoli.