Spain’s Lamine Yamal becomes youngest scorer in European Championship history

Lamine Yamal became the youngest player ever to score at the men’s European Championship on Tuesday when he netted against France in the semi-final.

The 16-year-old Yamal scored the goal in the 21st minute with a stunning shot that went past France goalkeeper Mike Maignan and into the top left corner of the post.

Yamal is 16 years and 362 days old. The previous youngest goalscorer was Switzerland’s Johan Vonlanthen (18 years and 141 days), also against France, at Euro 2004.

It is the second major record set by the Barcelona teenager, who already became the youngest player ever to play at a European Championship at the age of 16 years and 338 days when he took to the pitch during Spain’s Group B win over Croatia.

Yamal broke the record held by Polish midfielder Kasper Kozlowski, who was 17 years and 246 days old when he came on as a substitute at Euro 2020 (held in 2021 due to the Covid-19 pandemic) against Spain.

“He keeps breaking records,” Spain coach Luis de la Fuente said of Yamal after the Croatia game. “He’s growing, maturing and getting better every day.”

“He is on his way to becoming a great player, but he is very young and we have to be patient with him.”

The score was 2-1 at half-time. Yamal’s goal cancelled out Randal Kolo Muani’s opener for France.

French defender Jules Kounde scored an own goal four minutes after Yamal’s goal to give Spain the lead.