Lamine Yamal: "When I get the ball on the wing, I'm 100% myself"

Lamine Yamal has had a historic 2024, both with FC Barcelona and with the Spanish national team. He has won the Kopa Trophy, the Golden Boy, has entered the best XI of The Best and has lifted the European Championship. With the help of Barça One, he has reviewed all these moments. He began with the individual titles he has won, which were there present. He also made an assessment: "I am very happy. I had never imagined that the first year I was a starter with the first team I could win these three titles, also the European Championship with Spain." Although he did not want to establish a preference at the start, he ended up choosing the award for The Best XI because, unlike the other two, they are not dedicated to young footballers, but rather he competed on equal terms with all the players in Europe.

The conversation took on a more personal tone after breaking the ice. Lamine explained that he has done many interviews this year, especially after winning the continental championship with 'La Roja', but that he understands that it is something that goes hand in hand with the world of football: "I think it is a good thing. The better I play, the more I will do." He also commented on the clash of feelings he has between being treated as a 17-year-old and his football, making it clear that he prefers that people talk about his sporting side, although he understands that the subject of his age is also discussed.

Lamine Yamal shows his most human side

He is a person with a very small and difficult-to-access core. He stressed the importance of family for him, mentioning his parents, his cousins ​​and his paternal grandmother; as well as a friend, who he says is the only one he has. "My circle has always been very closed," he said. The fact that he is possibly the most important teenager in the world means that sometimes he cannot enjoy things typical of his age, although he commented that what he would like to do is drive, something that, until he turns 18, he cannot do. However, when he wants to isolate himself, he knows where to go: "I try to go to my mother's house or my father's. Are the only places where I can be myself."

His 2024 has seen a meteoric rise from start to finish. This, as is normal, has changed the way people see him. Yamal has explained that he notices a change when he meets fans on the street: "Before they would ask me things about Barça, like what it was like to play with Robert [Lewandowski]. Now they get more nervous, they don't know what to say or they ask me to send videos to their friends." He is a role model for the new generations and he knows it, but it makes him very proud: "It's a dream for everyone to be the idol of young children, even more so as a Barça player," he said.

Lamine's sporting 2024

The attacker's great performance, especially this season, has been slowed down by two ankle injuries. He is currently recovering from one of them, but he assured that he will return "better than ever and with more desire." He is a very optimistic boy, who even sees a positive side to ailments: "I have more free time and I can dedicate it to my family, to my friends. I arrive later to training, which is a good thing, I do the recovery exercises, the treatment and I go back home." Regarding the Laminedependence mentioned during his absences, he completely rejects it: "The important thing is that the team is well. When it is, it doesn't matter if a player is not there, because they will win."

On the pitch, he feels best when he receives the ball on the wing: "I am 100% myself, I can do what I want and I have freedom of movement. When I am defending or going down to receive the ball in the centre of the field, I follow the Barça rules: play with 1 or 2 touches, don't lose the ball, be a good teammate..." He also defined the team's style of play as "vertical and fun for the fans", although he admitted that defensively things are not working as well as other years.

Lamine Yamal concluded with a reflection on a year full of learning and transformation, highlighting how difficult moments, both personal and collective, have strengthened the team and himself. He thanked Xavi for his confidence in giving him his debut, valued the great impact of the European Championship on his maturity as a player and highlighted the support of key figures such as Hansi Flick, who inspires him to be more ambitious on the pitch. Through the humility that represents him, the forward explained that he combines his understanding of the game with his immense imagination and quality, which project him as a key figure in the future of Barça.