Euro 2024: Breakout Spain star Lamine Yamal named best young player of the tournament
Spain breakthrough star Lamine Yamal was declared the Best Young Player of the Tournament at Euro 2024 after Spain defeated England 2-1 in the final. La Roja picked up their fourth Euro trophy after 12 years on July 14 in Berlin.
Lamine Yamal was one of the best players of the tournament and key to Spanish success owing to his immaculate ball control and consistent good form. He recorded four assists and one goal, with one of the assists coming against England in the Euro 2024 final.
Yamal assisted Nico Williams' first goal of the night as he received the ball from Dani Carvajal in the right flank and tiptoed his way towards the centre. Finally, he produced a perfectly weighted through ball that was turned in by Williams in the 47th minute. The second goal from the Spanish side came from Mikel Oyarzabal in the 86th minute, leading Spain to their fourth European Championship trophy.
Yamal broke multiple records during the Euro 2024, including Pele's record of being the youngest player to participate in the final of a major European tournament. Following tonight's win, Spain hold the most number of European Championships in history, with four to their name.
Spain star Lamine Yamal's statistics in Euro 2024 explored
It's no surprise that Lamine Yamal was named the Best Young Player of the Tournament ahead of multiple other young talents due to his exceptional performance at Euro 2024. He assisted four key goals in the tournament and had a goal contribution in each of the knockout stages.
Yamal's first assist in La Roja's Euro 2024 opening game against Croatia, when he assisted Carvajal's third goal in a 3-0 win. His second assist came against Georgia in the Round of 16, as he set up Fabian Ruiz's goal in a massive 4-1 victory.
Lamine Yamal also set up crucial goals in the quarter-final against Germany for Dani Olmo and the final for Nico Williams. In the semi-final against France, the 17-year-old Barcelona prodigy scored his side's first goal against Les Blues.
Yamal currently holds the record for the joint-highest number of assists in a single edition of the European Championship. His exceptional ball control, killer left foot, ability to run at defenses with the ball, and great endurance was lauded by fans and pundits alike.