Lamine Yamal: Rising Star of Barcelona – A Journey of Religion, Wife, Family, and Football

Lamine Yamal: FC Barcelona’s La Masia has a longstanding tradition of nurturing exceptional football talent. From legends like Leo Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez, to emerging talents like Lamine Yamal, the Blaugranas continue to uphold their legacy. Goal 90 is excited to introduce another rising star to our readers. Lamine Yamal, often compared to a young Messi, has captured the attention of fans and critics alike. Join us as we unveil the untold stories and intriguing facts about this promising talent.

Who Is Lamine Yamal?

Born in Catalonia on July 13, 2007, Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana is a professional football player from Spain. He is a right winger for both the Spain national team and La Liga team Barcelona. One of the world’s greatest young talents, Lamine is highly respected.

The 17-year-old genius is the youngest player in the twenty-first century to record a La Liga assist. In addition, on May 14, 2023, he won his first championship with Barcelona. But because he was preoccupied with his foreign assignment in Spain, he was unable to join the title celebration.

La Masia, home of FC Barcelona, has a long history of producing outstanding football players. From current players like Lamine Yamal to legendary players like Leo Messi, Andres Iniesta, and Xavi Hernandez, the Blaugranas are carrying on their tradition. 

Lamine Yamal Early Life: Nurturing Talent in Football

Young Lamine Yamal with Messi

Young Lamine Yamal with Messi

Lamine was born in Esplugues de Llobregat, close to Barcelona, to Mounir Nasraoui, a building painter, and Sheila Ebana, a waitress. When he was three years old, his parents got divorced, but they continued to be in his life. 

At the age of four, Lamine began playing football with the local club, La Torreta. He grew up in the diverse Rocafonda district of Mataró, where he learned to celebrate accomplishments with a gesture.

Mr. and Mrs. Munir, who were both foreign-born, excitedly welcomed their first child, Lamine, on June 13, 2017. He received extra love, care, and attention during his upbringing. As a lifelong Barcelona resident and football enthusiast, his father instilled in young Lamine his passion for the Blaugranas.

When Lamine started kicking the ball around the house with his dad, his love for football was born. He joined a neighbourhood football team when he was only four years old. A few months later, he enrolled in the La Torretta academy, where he spent a limited period of time training.

 After clearing FC Barcelona’s trials, he was able to get a seat in La Masia in 2014 at the age of seven. In the weeks following his arrival, he won the “Promises League,” a local football competition in Catalonia, earning him the title of Best Player of the Event.

Lamine Yamal Family

Lamine is the eldest of three children born to Munir Nasraoui and Sheila Ebana. He has two younger siblings, Keyne and Baraa, who admire their older brother Lamine as a role model.

Furthermore, Lamine shares an exceptionally close bond with his paternal grandmother, who played a crucial role as one of his strongest pillars of support on his journey to the pinnacle of professional football.

Meet Sheila Ebana, Lamine Yamal’s Mother

Lamine Yamal is very close to his mother.

Sheila Ebana moved to Spain years ago in search of better possibilities in life, even though she was born in Equatorial Guinea. Regretfully, no information about her educational history or parents is known, however, it is known that she was a waitress.

Yamal’s mother, however, is his biggest source of support. He disclosed, “My mother is afraid for me when I start, but she supports me a lot,” according to Barca Universal. Surprisingly, he wears a Spanish shirt, and his bespoke boots have flags from Equatorial Guinea and Morocco sewn onto them to recognize his background.

Meet Munir Nasraoui, Lamine Yamal’s Father

Yamal’s father has always supported him.

Mounir Nasraoui, his father, is a Moroccan immigrant who was formerly employed as a construction painter. He was born in Larache, Morocco, and subsequently moved to Spain. In 1988, Yamal’s grandmother Fatima traveled from Tangier to Madrid with his mother in order to provide for her and her family’s everyday needs.

It’s interesting to note that Mounir, a 32-year-old soccer player, had to work between jobs to make ends meet because he was unable to succeed professionally. 

How he met Ebana is a mystery, but they fell in love and were married not long after. On July 13, 2007, their superstar son was born, completing the family. Sadly, Mounir and Sheila’s marriage didn’t continue long because they broke up three years later. 

You cannot fathom how proud I am of my son,” Mounir said, before going on to say, “I have faith that he might go all the way and be bigger than Messi.” I’ve always known that he will succeed in his endeavors. The Telegraph said, “I had complete faith.”

Lamine Yamal Ethnicity

Lamine Yamal hails from a diverse ethnic background, with his Moroccan heritage on his father’s side and his Guinean roots on his mother’s side.

What is Lamine Yamal’s Religion

Lamine Yamal follows Islam. Lamine Yamal is a Muslim who was raised in a Muslim household. On July 13, 2007, Lamine Yamal was born in Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain. He is from the lively Spanish region of Catalonia, more precisely the Barcelona metropolitan area. 

Yamal’s origins are closely linked to Catalonia’s rich footballing and cultural traditions. Yamal’s growth as a person and a football player has been greatly impacted by this area, which is well-known for its fervent football supporters and distinctive blend of cultures.

One of the most prominent football teams in the world, FC Barcelona, is based in Catalonia and is well-known for its La Masia youth program. Growing up in a place where football was so important gave Yamal the ideal atmosphere to develop his abilities and pursue his goals. With its varied communities and rich history, Catalonia’s multiculturalism was a major influence in the development of Yamal’s identity and viewpoints.

Is Lamine Yamal Married?

Lamine is seen celebrating with his girlfriend.

Despite being seen celebrating with a stunning brunette during Spain’s victory in the Euro 2024 final, Lamine Yamal is single.

Little is known about Lamine Yamal’s girlfriend, Alex Padilla, a student at Barcelona, despite the fact that she has over 400,000 TikTok followers thanks to pictures of the two cuddlings that went viral following Spain’s victory over England.

The inhabitant of Barcelona also had a sizable Instagram following, with about 20,000 followers, before she deleted the account due to the rumors that circulated about her and Yamal.

According to rumors, she followed Lamine Yamal and his father Mounir Nasraoui on social media before deleting her account. The two have been connected for some time now as perceptive admirers discovered that the Spaniard only follows two profiles on the app, including her TikTok.

When she was seen sitting next to the 17-year-old’s family for Spain’s group stage games, the rumors became even more intense. After Spain defeated the Three Lions, the devoted couple inadvertently proved they were a couple. When the final whistle blew, Alex was seen on the field wearing a Spanish jersey with her boyfriend’s name and number on the back.

On the field, the young couple seemed a match made in heaven, even posing with Yamal’s Young Player of the Year trophy.

Lamine Yamal Childhood

Lamine Yamal

On the 13th of June 2017, Mr. and Mrs. Munir, both of whom were ex-pats, joyfully welcomed their first child, Lamine. His upbringing was enriched with extra attention, care, and adoration. His father, an ardent football fan living in the city of Barcelona, naturally passed on his love for the Blaugranas to young Lamine.

Lamine’s passion for football ignited when he began kicking the ball around the house with his dad. At just the age of 4, he was enrolled in a local football team. A few months later, he joined the La Toretta academy, where he trained briefly before eventually passing trials for FC Barcelona, securing his spot in La Masia at the age of 7 in 2014. Just a few weeks after joining, he emerged victorious in a local Catalonian football tournament called the “Promises League,” where he was honored as the Best Player of the tournament.

Having an unswerving affinity for Barça, Lamine’s childhood idol was none other than Lionel Messi. It’s been reported that much of his computer and phone storage was occupied by clips of the legendary Argentine player. Surprisingly, in an interview with Diario As, Lamine revealed that he also looked up to Real Madrid’s star player, Marco Asensio.

Lamine Yamal Career

As time passed, it became increasingly evident that he was one of La Masia’s finest homegrown talents, to the extent that both his coaches and teammates affectionately dubbed him ‘The Mini Messi.’ Here are some captivating highlights from one of his U-9 games against Real Madrid:

In no time, he earned a promotion to the Juvenil A team. At the time, he was originally eligible for the Juvenile B team, but due to his exuberant playing style and impressive football skills, he found himself playing alongside older players.

With Xavi Hernandez taking over at Barcelona and ushering in a new era of ‘Xaviball,’ he closely monitored Lamine’s development. This attention resulted in a call-up to the first team in the summer of 2022, where Lamine trained alongside established stars like Robert Lewandowski, Ousmane Dembele, Marc Andre Ter Stegen, and other FC Barcelona heavyweights.

Following an impressive run with the reserve team and unwavering dedication during training, Lamine made his debut against Real Betis in late April 2023, at the age of just 15. The following summer, marked by the departure of the formidable attacking force, Ousmane Dembele, Barcelona legend Xavi placed his trust in this young talent, and he delivered. Lamine’s performances became the talk of the town, leading to his permanent inclusion in the Starting XI.

When asked about Lamine’s footballing intelligence, Xavi had this to say:

“Of course, I am surprised by what he does at his age; he’s only 16,” Xavi commented about Yamal after the match. “Everyone is— I am not an exception. He consistently makes the best decisions, which is what sets him apart in football.

“We have high expectations, especially when you witness what you see [on the pitch]. He doesn’t start games on a whim; he starts because we believe he can impact matches.”

What is the Net Worth and Salary of Lamine Yamal?

For the 2024–2025 Season, Yamal receives a base salary of $1.79 million annually. The right winger claims to have a $5.3 million salary guaranteed. In addition, it gives him a bonus of $451,476. The agreement will end on June 30, 2026.

In addition, the 16-year-old is worth $97 million on the market. However, the contract’s enormous buyout clause likely eclipses everything else.

Yamal’s contract is reportedly sealed with a release clause valued at an astounding $1.07 billion. This implies that any team attempting to sign the winger before his deal ends has to give Barcelona a bit more than $1 billion. 

Furthermore, there is justification for this action. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) reportedly made Barca an offer of $218 million for Yamal in March, according to Marca. Joan Laporta, the club president, later verified the information.

Lamine Yamal Personal Lifestyle

Despite playing for one of the biggest clubs in the football world, he prefers modest vacations with friends and family. In addition to enjoying vacations and relaxation, he remains committed to intensive training during holiday seasons, diligently following a strict workout routine. This reflects his unwavering determination to unlock his full potential.

Young Lionel Messi holding Lamine Yamal when he was a Baby

Young Messi with a child Lamine Yamal.

The 2007 photo of the two soccer winners was shared on Instagram by Yamal’s father. The child in the pictures was none other than Lamine Yamal, the Spanish wunderkind who won the European Championship Saturday with Spain the day after turning 17 years old.

The images went viral on social media and received millions of views on X. Yamal, who is the youngest player to compete in a European Championship, is being compared to the greatest players already.

A long-lost picture from 2007 made a reappearance on Instagram on July 4th, when Yamal’s father shared it with the caption, “the beginning of two legends.” When Yamal was just a few months old, the photo shoot was done in the visitors’ locker room at Barcelona’s Camp Nou in the fall of 2007.

Lamine Yamal Dynamic Play Style

Yamal’s movement away from the ball has been crucial to Barça’s counterattacks. He has the ability to drop and assault the space in behind, where he can draw attention from a defender and free up space for allies behind. He can apply the finish to a quick break and is at ease when the ball is played into his feet, whether in build-up or more attacking areas.

Lamine is quite good in one-on-one settings. He can move through confined spaces with ease thanks to his close ball control, confusing defenders. He poses a threat in the attacking third because of his ability to dribble precisely and shift direction quickly.

Yamal’s diagonal dashes inside from wide can help him become a more decisive player when in possession. This would enable him to more effectively link up plays to create shooting opportunities around the box while teammates are attacking.

Some Facts about Lamine Yamal:

  • Youngest player to ever represent Spain’s national team
  • Youngest player ever to score for Spain’s national team
  • Youngest debutant of the century for FC Barcelona
  • His agent is Jorge Mendes, who also represents Cristiano Ronaldo
  • He initially played as a central striker during his youth years before transitioning to the right flank.

Keep Reading: 10 Most Misunderstood Footballers

Lina Khatiwada

Lina Khatiwada

Lina is an experienced writer and passionate sports fan who is committed to providing sports fans all over the world with the most recent information, and biography. Lina, who has a passion for all things sports-related, blends her writing abilities with her in-depth understanding of football to produce interesting articles.
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Player Info

Full Name

Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana

Nickname

Mini Messi

Date Of Birth

June 13, 2007

Place Of Birth

Barcelona, Spain

Nationality

Spanish

Ethnicity

Morrocan, Guinean

Height

5ft 11in (1.8m)

Marital Status

Single

Parents

  • Munir Nasraoui (Father)
  • Sheila Ebana (Mother)

Instagram

Twitter

Professional Career

Current Team

FC Barcelona

Club Jersey Num

27

National Team

Spain

Youth Team(s)

  • La Torretta
  • La Masia (FC Barcelona)

Position(s)

  • Right Winger
  • Central Attacking
  • Midfielder

Preferred Foot

Left

Playing Style

  • Dribbler
  • Goalscorer
  • False Nine

Market Value

€25.00 Million

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