Football

Lamine Yamal, a prodigious 16-year-old winger for Barcelona, is poised to make history as the youngest player to ever grace the European Championship. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente has selected Yamal to start their opening match against Croatia on June 15.Yamal's selection eclipses the previous record held by Polish international Kacper Kozlowski, who played at Euro 2020 at the age of 17 years and 246 days. If Yamal finds the back of the net during the tournament in Germany, he will shatter the record for the youngest goalscorer at the Euros, currently held by Johan Vonlanthen for Switzerland against France in 2004.Yamal's meteoric rise has been nothing short of remarkable. He made his debut for Barcelona at the tender age of 15 and has since established himself as a key player for the Catalan giants. De la Fuente handed Yamal his Spain debut in September 2022, making him the country's youngest ever player and goalscorer against Georgia in Euro 2024 qualifying.Yamal's selection has sent shockwaves through the football world. Croatia captain Luka Modric, 38, joked, "When I hear that kind of thing, I feel really old. Everyone will see him as the greatest danger for Spain, he's got great potential and a great career in front of him."Yamal's emergence has not only excited Spanish fans but has also raised questions about the future of the national team. With a plethora of young talent emerging, Spain could be poised for a resurgence on the international stage.