Lamine Yamal kicked off his 19th birthday with a playful kickabout alongside his friends before taking center stage at a pre-match press conference for the World Cup semi-final. He made a striking entrance, peeling back his tracksuit top like a superhero to reveal an extravagant white gold and diamond chain, a gift he humorously noted was a purchase he made for himself.
“Actually, no, I bought this for myself so it doesn’t count as a gift,” he remarked, beaming at the gathered journalists for joining him on his special day. With a twinkle in his eye, he mentioned he hadn’t received many presents yet but had his heart set on one thing: “There are much harder things in life than a football match,”
Should his team triumph on Wednesday, that wish might just come true. However, the young star and his Spanish teammates must first overcome the formidable challenge posed by France. Despite the high stakes, Yamal claimed he felt no pressure. “It’s a game, I know what I’m capable of and I’m not worried about anything.” he asserted confidently.
His day included a morning training session, marked by a playful gauntlet run where he and fellow birthday celebrant Víctor Muñoz were playfully slapped on the back by teammates as they passed by. In the afternoon, he seamlessly transitioned into the press conference, displaying an ease that belied his youth. Following the event, he planned to give a haircut to his three-year-old brother, Keyne.
“I was asked if there was fear and I said no, obviously not: we’re European champions,” he stated. “We don’t have to talk too much, we know what we have to do.”
When asked how this match ranked among his previous experiences, he responded, “I would say to him: relax, enjoy it. Anxiety, out! Let him enjoy it. Lamine’s great day is still to come at this World Cup. I hope it’s tomorrow and, if not, in the final.”
After Spain’s quarter-final victory, Yamal expressed that instead of fearing France, it was they who should be wary of Spain. He noted that his Barcelona teammate Jules Koundé, who will be on the opposing side, understood that such sentiments are simply part of football. “It’s special to [have] scored in games like this and of course I accept the challenge. You lot say I am not at my best level, so you don’t need to expect anything from me tomorrow. But I hope it will be a special day.” Yamal explained. “We’re going to play one of the nicest games, there’s no space to talk about that,”
Despite the team’s challenges so far, there is a sense of determination to improve, echoed in the words of his manager, Luis de la Fuente. “But if football serves any purpose it is for integration. All the more so with Spain and France, which are examples. That’s what football is for; not for talking about comments like that.” said de la Fuente. “It’s very nice that football has given me the chance to be known in Chattanooga [where Spain’s training base was]. I never imagined I could go somewhere in the US and be recognised.”
Yamal shares that hope, even if he tried to remain composed. He was reminded of his past successes against France, having scored in both previous encounters when he was just 16 and 17 years old, but he acknowledged that he had only found the net once during this World Cup. He accepted the challenge, saying, “When the cameras turn to him he does silly things. He’ll see it when he’s older. I’m happy people like him as much as I do. When I see him, it amuses me.”
In a subtle jab at former Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, Yamal refrained from mentioning him directly, opting instead to address the notion presented in a recent column that France were good, but not truly French. “What would you say to a 10-year-old you?” he stated. “I don’t know: to be himself and enjoy it,”
While the focus was largely on football, the young player also reflected on his rapid rise to fame. “because the Portugal coach talked about that [numerology] … and then Mikel Merino turned up! I’m not worried about scoring, all that matters is winning, but hopefully a goal comes tomorrow and it’s a great day. What I want as a present is a win.” he said.
Lamine Yamal is not just a name in Chattanooga; he is making waves across the United States, with his image showcased on numerous billboards. Even his younger brother, Keyne, has garnered attention during the tournament. “He doesn’t realise,” Yamal laughed. “When the cameras turn to him, he does silly things. He’ll see it when he’s older. I’m happy people like him as much as I do. When I see him, it amuses me.”
Amid the pressures of stardom, Yamal has embraced his role and responsibilities. He was eager to participate in the press conference, recognizing it as part of his new reality. “What would you say to a 10-year-old you?” he was asked, to which he replied, “I don’t know: to be himself and enjoy it.”
When the topic shifted to numerology, given that his birthday coincided with his shirt number and the final date, he dismissed any significance. “No,” he said, “because the Portugal coach talked about that [numerology] … and then Mikel Merino turned up! I’m not worried about scoring; all that matters is winning, but hopefully a goal comes tomorrow and it’s a great day. What I want as a present is a win.”
