Yamal's dribbling ability makes him one of the most game-changing players in the game today. His effortless ball control, knack for finding seemingly impossible spaces, and skill in one-on-one situations are among his most striking qualities.
Yamal's talent was evident even before he joined the La Masia academy, when he was just a child who always had a ball at his feet.
Among his earliest opponents were some rather unusual "competitors": his dogs.
In this interview, Yamal looks back at his childhood, his first experiences with football, and the moments that shaped the talent that now amazes the public.
Yamal said with a smile, "At home, I loved playing football with my dogs. My dad told me not to be afraid, that they wouldn't bite me, so I had a great time playing with them. Getting past a dog is the hardest thing there is."
For Yamal, these games taught him a lot. Animals move unpredictably, so the young player had to figure out how to get past them without losing the ball.
He admitted, "It was also part of my learning process, like a training session."
His love for the ball bordered on obsession. His family remembers that he never wanted to be without a football, whether at mealtimes or before bed, and he would get upset if it was taken away.
He confessed, "I remember I used to put the ball in my school bag. Before going into the classroom, I would hide it in the bag again, because the teacher didn't want me putting the ball on the desk."
The dogs were unexpected opponents, but the real learning happened in Mataró, where he grew up.