Yamal has quickly risen through the ranks and managed to capture the world’s attention with his bedazzling football skills.
At 17 years old, many footballers are still in the academy, trying to convince the coaches of senior teams for a few minutes in cup competitions.
But for Yamal, the script is different.
The teenager has already played and starred in a Euro-winning side, played and starred in a Champions League team that reached the semi-final, played an integral role in helping his country reach back-to-back major finals, among many other things.
So much so that he is already receiving Ballon d’Or shouts and is in one for a podium place finish at this year’s awards.
So good is he that when Spain came up against Portugal, he was the poster boy against you-know-who. That he was compared to Cristiano Ronaldo, one of the best players the world has ever seen, is gratifying for anyone. But when you are still a minor, it is even more satisfying.
Ronaldo won the debate this time on a night when Yamal was uncharacteristically off-colour.
Why Yamal wears flags of two other countries
Away from the Ronaldo vs Yamal debates, the latter’s boots always make for interesting viewing. At last year’s Euro championships in Germany, he was spotted with flags of Equatorial Guinea and Morocco, despite playing for Spain.
Well, the Barcelona star chose to play for La Roja, but under different circumstances, he would have represented one of the two African nations.
Lamine Yamal parents
Yamal was born in Esplugues de Llobregat, Catalonia, but his parents were not originally from Spain.
His father, Mounir Nasraoui, is from Larache, a city in northwestern Morocco, while his mother, Sheila Ebana, is from Bata, Equatorial Guinea. The mother was a waitress while the father was a building painter. They separated when Yamal was three years old, but have remained present in his life and career.