16 years and 338 days old! Yamal becomes the youngest player to feature at EURO

16-years and 338 days old Lamine Yamal starts for Spain against Croatia. 

The 16-year-old winger somehow became the youngest player to debut for Barcelona in La Liga (15 years, 9 months and 16 days) the week before becoming the youngest to play for their second team, Barcelona B.

He is the youngest goalscorer in the history of La Liga, Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup — not too bad for a kid who still shows his braces when he smiles.

In terms of national records, Yamal is the youngest player ever to represent Spain.

The youngest player to score for Spain.

The youngest player to provide an assist for Spain.

The youngest player to receive a standing ovation for Spain — in the Bernabeu, no less — at a match against Brazil in March where he set up three goals and outshone the Real Madrid forward and Ballon d’Or favourite Vinicius Junior.

He will probably break records at Euro 2024, too, but the fixation on his youth has the odd effect of underselling the player he is right now.

Yamal isn’t just Spain's youngest player — he may already be their most important.