'A superstar is born' - Yamal's history making moment of 'genius'

Every truthful often, a extremity is scored astatine a European Championship that stands nan trial of time. It is remembered, replayed, and talked astir for decades.

Marco van Basten's angled volley astatine Euro 1988 is one. Paul Gascoigne's individual tally and decorativeness astatine Euro 1996 is another, arsenic is Karel Poborsky's spot astatine nan aforesaid tournament.

Lamine Yamal's history making extremity for Spain against France successful nan semi-finals of Euro 2024 tin beryllium added to nan list.

With Spain trailing 1-0, Yamal coiled a superb onslaught from extracurricular nan container into nan apical area to nonstop him into nan history books.

At 16 years and 362 days he became nan youngest scorer successful tourney history - and had those watching near successful awe.

"A superstar is born," erstwhile England striker Gary Lineker said connected BBC One. "It was nan infinitesimal of nan match, perchance nan infinitesimal of nan tournament."

"Just incredible," added ex-England striker Alan Shearer. "We've been talking astir him each tourney and saying what a ridiculously young property it is.

"To do that, it's conscionable outrageous."

The goal, which had fans wrong nan Allianz Arena and astir nan world gasping arsenic it was replayed successful slow motion, was each nan much awesome because of its timing.

This was astatine 1-0 down successful nan semi-final of a awesome tournament. It was a high-pressure moment, but 1 he handled effortlessly.

At nary shape successful nan build-up to nan heavyweight title did Yamal show signs of nerves.

He was smiling and joking pinch his team-mates connected nan transportation successful nan hours earlier kick-off, and carried that assurance into his performance.

"We saw a touch of genius," Spain leader Luis de la Fuente said of Yamal's goal.

"We each request to return attraction of him. I would for illustration him to activity pinch nan aforesaid humility and support his feet connected nan ground, to support learning.

“He looks for illustration a overmuch much knowledgeable subordinate to beryllium honest. I observe that he is successful our team, that he is Spanish.

"We count connected him and hopefully we tin bask him for years to come.”

Yamal is now making an effect connected nan world stage, but he had already rewritten nan grounds books successful his breakthrough play astatine Barcelona.

He became nan Spanish side's youngest starter and goalscorer, arsenic good arsenic nan youngest scorer successful La Liga.

Yamal turns 17 connected 13 July - 1 time earlier nan last of Euro 2024, successful which Spain will look either England aliases nan Netherlands.

Giving an penetration into his mentality, nan teen said each he wanted to do to observe his day was "win, win, triumph and win".

Whoever Spain look successful nan final, they would beryllium advised not to supply nan youngster pinch further motivation, arsenic France possibly did.

Prior to nan game, midfielder Adrian Rabiot said Yamal would request to "show much than he had truthful acold astatine nan tournament".

At nan extremity of nan game, Yamal celebrated by saying to a TV camera: "Speak now, speak now."

Former England defender Rio Ferdinand said: "It's almost for illustration Yamal saw Rabiot and his eyes lit up and he said: 'I'm going to show you.'

"A awesome decorativeness from a kid truthful young."

Yamal emerged for nan post-match news convention astatine 12:15am, erstwhile astir different 16-year-olds would beryllium accelerated asleep, and was asked who his comments were directed to.

“The personification I americium talking about, this personification who will cognize this personification is," he said.

"It is simply a dream travel existent to scope a last pinch nan nationalist team."

Facing nan gathered media, Yamal showed nan aforesaid level of assurance he had connected nan pitch.

His attraction now switches to Sunday's last successful Berlin.

Asked who he would for illustration to face, he replied: "I don’t really mind.

"When you scope nan last you person to play nan champion and they are besides very adjacent games.

"We will hold and play whoever it is.”