Spain’s Lamine Yamal, 16, becomes youngest goalscorer in Euro history

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

Yamal, 16, scored in the 21st minute, curling a stunning strike past French goalkeeper Mike Maignan and into the top left corner, inside the post.

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

It is the second significant record set by the Barcelona teenager, who had already become the youngest player to feature at a Euro at 16 years and 338 days when he came on in Spain’s Group B win over Croatia.

Yamal took the record from Polish midfielder Kacper Kozłowski, who was 17 years and 246 days old when he came off the bench at Euro 2020 (which was played 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 improving every day.”

“He’s on his way to becoming a great player, but he’s 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 converted the ball into his own net four minutes after Yamal’s goal to give Spain the lead.