WHAT HAPPENED?
The teenage player was selected in the starting lineup for the Euro 2024 final between La Roja and England, one day after celebrating his 17th birthday. He has shattered Pele’s record from the 1958 World Cup final to become the youngest player to ever compete in a major international final.
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Since the start of the European Championship, the Barcelona youth has smashed records before. In his team’s opening game against Croatia, he made history as the youngest player to start in a European Championship competition. After that, he scored in the competition’s semifinal victory over France to become the youngest-ever goal scorer in history.
DID YOU KNOW?
Remarkably, if the match against England had gone to extra time, Yamal might not have been able to continue playing since under German law, it is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to work after 11 p.m. If Spain had broken that regulation, they would have been fined, but in the end, Mikel Oyarzabal and Nico Williams’ goals helped them defeat England 2-1 in normal time.
WHAT NEXT?
After assisting Luis de la Fuente’s team in defeating Gareth Southgate’s England, Yamal has also became the youngest player to win the European Championship.
