Lamine Yamal Shatters Historic Records Before His 18th Birthday
Lamine Yamal burst onto the football scene when he made his professional debut with Barcelona in 2023. Just two years on, this young talent has become one of the globe's finest players.
Yamal's ascent has been nothing short of spectacular, beginning with his debut at age 15, progressing through his breakout season as one of football's most promising stars in 2023–24, and ultimately cementing his status as a world-class player throughout 2024–25.
The young star has already accumulated five major honors in his brief career. At Barcelona, he has secured two La Liga championships, one Copa Del Rey triumph, and one Spanish Super Cup victory. A year ago, he was part of Spain's triumphant 2024 European Championship squad. He currently holds both the Kopa Trophy and Golden Boy accolades.
This Sunday marks the 18th birthday of the Rocafonda, Catalonia-born player. As Yamal enters adulthood and gains the legal rights to consume alcohol, participate in elections, and operate vehicles in Spain, Sports Illustrated examines the remarkable collection of records he has shattered since his professional debut.
Major Records Lamine Yamal Has Broken
Youngest Barcelona Debutant
Yamal's professional debut came on April 29, 2023, when Barcelona faced Real Betis in La Liga at Camp Nou. At merely 15 years and 290 days old, he surpassed Ansu Fati's previous record by more than a year to become Barcelona's youngest-ever official debutant.
Youngest Player To Start a Match in La Liga
Several months following his professional debut, Yamal earned his first start for the Catalan club in their 2023–24 La Liga season opener. At 16 years and 38 days old, he broke the record for Spain's top division's youngest starter, surpassing Malaga's Fabrice Olinga's previous mark by 60 days.
Yamal also holds the distinction of being La Liga's youngest player to both score and provide an assist, while also claiming the title of the competition's youngest champion.
Youngest Spain National Team Debutant
On September 8, 2023, Yamal established himself as Spain's youngest-ever senior international player when he appeared against Georgia in a Euro 2024 qualifying match. At just 16 years and 57 days old, he came on as a substitute for the injured Dani Olmo and marked the occasion with a goal, simultaneously becoming La Roja's youngest-ever scorer.
The records he claimed belonged previously to his Barcelona colleague, Gavi.
Youngest Goalscorer Ever in European Championships
During Spain's victorious 2024 European Championship campaign, Yamal established numerous records, with one particularly noteworthy achievement: becoming the tournament's youngest-ever goalscorer.
Yamal's spectacular strike against France in the semifinal represents perhaps the most defining moment of his career thus far. While he had already captivated audiences with his abilities during 2023–24, this remarkable goal that sparked Spain's comeback transformed Yamal into a global phenomenon.
This goal made Yamal the youngest scorer in European Championship history. At 16 years and 362 days old, he surpassed Swiss player Johan Vonlathen's previous record—who had scored in the 2004 tournament at 18 years and 141 days.
Spain subsequently claimed the championship, and Yamal overtook Pelé as the youngest player to win a senior international competition, though Mexico's Gilberto Mora recently broke this record when El Tri captured the 2025 Gold Cup.
Youngest Player to Start a Champions League Match
While Yamal is Barcelona's youngest Champions League debutant, his starting appearance in a group stage fixture against Porto in October 2023 at just 16 years and 83 days old also made him the youngest player to start a match in Europe's premier club competition.
He bettered Celestine Babayaro's record by three days: the former Chelsea player had previously held the record from his time with Anderlecht in the 1990s.
Youngest Goalscorer in El Clasico History
Yamal holds the distinction of being both the youngest player to participate in the legendary Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry and the youngest scorer in El Clásico history.
Barcelona dominated Real Madrid 4–0 in the first El Clásico of the 2024–25 campaign at the Santiago Bernabéu. Yamal netted a spectacular goal for Barça's third, etching his name into the rivalry's record books by scoring against Los Blancos at just 17 years and 105 days old.