Lamine Yamal just keeps proving why he’s one of football’s brightest young stars. The 17-year-old delivered yet another unforgettable performance on Sunday night, scoring a stunning goal in Spain’s pulsating 3-3 draw against the Netherlands. Though he also missed a penalty in the shoot-out, La Roja held their nerve to win 5-4 and book their place in the Nations League semi-finals.
A sold-out Mestalla stadium in Valencia was buzzing with anticipation, and the loudest cheer of the night was reserved for Yamal. The Barcelona wonderkid didn’t disappoint, mesmerizing the crowd with his silky skills and delivering a moment of pure magic—controlling a lofted pass, spinning effortlessly, and bending a beauty past Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen.
Despite the brilliance, there was a sting in the tail. Verbruggen denied Yamal in the shoot-out, leaving the teenager with a bittersweet feeling. But Spain got the job done, and for Yamal, it was yet another lesson on his journey to greatness.
The Making of a Superstar
Yamal isn’t just a rising talent—he’s already a key player for both Barcelona and Spain. He helped La Roja win Euro 2024 just a day after turning 17, and his electric runs down the right flank have drawn inevitable comparisons to Lionel Messi.
Sunday’s game was the perfect response to his critics, particularly former Dutch international Rafael van der Vaart, who had questioned his work rate after a quiet first leg in Rotterdam. Yamal answered the best way he knows how—on the pitch. Then, he took the banter a step further with a cheeky Instagram post:
“Shorts down, a goal, a missed penalty, and into the semi-finals, come on Spain!”
To make sure his message hit home, he even included a photo of Van der Vaart. Message received.
This isn’t the first time Yamal has fired back at doubters. During Euro 2024, after his wondergoal helped knock out France, he had a sharp response for Adrien Rabiot, who had suggested he was too young to handle the pressure.
Bouncing Back Stronger
Missing a penalty is never fun, but Yamal’s teammates have no doubt he’ll take it in stride.
“I told him it was a terrible penalty,” Barcelona teammate Pedri joked. “But you have to take a penalty to miss it. He doesn’t let pressure get to him.”
Marc Cucurella was equally blunt: “I saw him step up with confidence and thought, ‘Yeah, he’s scoring this for sure.’ Then I saw how he hit it and just thought, ‘What a disaster!’”
But underneath the jokes, there’s real belief in Yamal. With him and Nico Williams running the flanks, Spain have become one of the most exciting teams in world football.
A Huge Semi-Final Awaits
Spain coach Luis de la Fuente was full of praise for Yamal while reminding everyone that the teenager is still learning.
“Lamine is disappointed about the penalty, but he’s happy. He gave us what we needed, but he’s still growing and maturing.”
Spain now shift their focus to a mouthwatering semi-final clash against France—a rematch of their Euro 2024 showdown. With Yamal in their ranks, they’ll fancy their chances of defending their Nations League title.
One thing is clear: this is just the beginning for Lamine Yamal.
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