Yamal makes the extraordinary seem normal

Applause from the opposing crowd is considered the rarest and highest form of recognition in football. It is usually given to legends who are nearing the end of their careers. The audience then wants to say farewell in a friendly way, beyond all tribal feuds, and to honor a life’s achievement. However, it is not normal for a player to experience such appreciation right at the beginning of his career. But what is normal at Lamine Yamal?

Recently in the league game in Villarreal, the 17-year-old, who has been 17 for a good two months, experienced the homage for a stratospheric outside-the-foot pass, which his teammate Raphinha converted into a goal. He had a similar experience earlier this season in Valencia and Girona. Fans everywhere are paying tribute to his major contribution to the Spaniards’ triumph at the European Championships, where he finished as the best assist provider, among other things. Or his continued natural and likeable demeanor. And above all, an epoch-making talent whose limits are not yet apparent.

Yamal hits the corners of the goal with ease

The right wing of FC Barcelona continues seamlessly from its gala performances at the Euro. He has already scored four goals and recorded five assists in eight league matchdays. In the Champions League, in which Barça hosts the Young Boys on Tuesday, he scored the only goal in the 1-2 opening defeat against AS Monaco. Lamine Yamal Nasraoui Ebana is not yet allowed to vote or drive a car. But the Spanish league leaders’ game is already about him.

The final proof for the time being was provided ex negativo on Saturday evening when Yamal took a break for the first time because of the upcoming Champions League game against YB – Barça promptly missed equalizing their league start record of eight wins in a row with a 2-4 defeat at Osasuna. Without having to worry about Yamal’s pace and his feints, the home outsiders were able to play much more freely. Lamine came onto the pitch late on and marked the final score with a similarly brilliant left-footed shot as in the European Championship semi-final against France.

The ease with which he seems to hit the corners of the goal is one of his amazing characteristics. He doesn’t sound arrogant when he explains why he seemed to be celebrating the goal against France as soon as the ball left his foot: “When you shoot like that, hard into the corner, your body automatically turns to celebrate. » His shooting technique is so brilliant that he created his four league goals from chances whose quality would have led to only two goals being expected. For other top strikers such as teammate Robert Lewandowski or Real Madrid stars Mbappé and Vinicius, this so-called “expected goals” value is higher than their actual goals.

In his typical movement, Yamal moves from the outside in and then shoots or lays down – the opponent suspects what is happening and still cannot prevent it. But with almost every game, the teenager also shows other, new facets, for example in game structure or through trips to a more central position. In addition to his fine foot, Yamal’s feeling for free spaces, no matter how small, is particularly impressive. Everything seems effortless for this player, who once said that the greatest technical challenge of his life was defending football against his father’s frolicking dogs as a child.

Nowadays, coaches and observers are particularly afraid of the kicks of helpless opponents, who have sometimes been extremely rough in recent weeks. Even media from the rival capital Madrid have since called on the referees to better protect the nation’s jewel. After all, Yamal’s muscles and joints have proven to be resistant so far. Unlike other precocious protagonists of “Baby Barça” such as Pedri, Gavi and Ansu Fati, he has so far been spared serious injuries. He also stays away from pressure, attention and private headlines more successfully than his father, who had to be hospitalized with stab wounds after a neighborhood dispute in August.

Now he wants to become a legend

When appearing on Spain’s most-watched talk show “El Hormiguero” recently, Lamine didn’t spoil anything – and still revealed a few curious details. That he would like to get an octopus as a pet, but his mother won’t allow it. That he was interested in cooking and that he didn’t want to have tattoos. The exceptional footballer said he could now only shop online because he was already too famous for business visits.

But he feels well prepared for his life in the spotlight – thanks to his down-to-earth origins in the immigrant district of Rocafonda in the Catalan city of Mataró. His grandmother Fatima, who lives there, still advises him today: “Don’t just wear black clothes, always smile and take good care of your parents.” He was also well prepared during his many years at Barça’s La Masia youth boarding school: “You learn a lot there, they also prepare you with psychologists.”

He is already being applauded, he still wants to become a “legend” – the player about whom the then coach Xavi said when he was first nominated for the squad that he combined the “qualities of different footballers”. Yamal was 15 years old at the time. And now, at 17, he has been nominated for the World Footballer’s Golden Ball for the first time. Yamal says he knows he doesn’t have a chance of winning this year: “But it’s a good warm-up.”