Lamine Yamal, a rising star at just 17 years old , recently shared a stunning message on his Instagram, reminiscing about his spectacular goal scored against France last summer during the Euro 2024 . This post comes just before his highly anticipated reunion with the French team tonight (Thursday at 9 PM) in the semi-final of the Nations League .
Lamine Yamal seems to place significant importance on the upcoming clash between France and Spain . Earlier this week, the Barcelona prodigy labeled this Nations League semi-final, taking place in Stuttgart, as a crucial moment in his quest for the Ballon d’Or . On Instagram, he heightened the anticipation by recalling the thrilling scenario from their last encounter nearly a year ago.
“Nobody Knows”
The Spanish forward posted a story featuring his magnificent goal scored against the French team during the Euro 2024 semi-final on July 9, 2024. He accompanied the post with the hit song “Nadie Sabe” (Nobody Knows) by Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny . Despite the French team taking an early lead with a goal from Randal Kolo Muani in the 9th minute, Yamal equalized shortly thereafter with an exceptional strike that found the top corner of the net, just 12 minutes later (21st minute). Dani Olmo then scored the decisive goal a few minutes later (25th minute), leading Spain to a final victory.
Known for posting slightly provocative messages on social media before major matches, Lamine Yamal is once again stirring up excitement. The talented winger views this upcoming duel as a pivotal moment in his battle with Ousmane Dembélé for the prestigious Ballon d’Or, a sentiment he shared during a recent interview with Radio Cope .
“Let’s Play for the Ballon d’Or Thursday”
“The award recognizes the best player of the year ,” Yamal stated. “So, it’s up to each of us to determine who deserves it. I truly believe we will win on Thursday, but regardless of the outcome, I will still vote for the best player of the year. If someone important isn’t playing on Thursday, something crucial could happen for me or Dembélé. Then who do you vote for? Someone else who plays on Sunday? I don’t know. If people want to play for it on Thursday, then let’s do it.”
With a remarkable record of 18 goals in 55 matches and several magical moments this season, Lamine Yamal has helped lead Barcelona to three titles, including La Liga . However, his statistics are somewhat overshadowed by Ousmane Dembélé’s impressive tally of 33 goals in 49 matches and his crucial role in securing four titles for Paris Saint-Germain , including the club’s first ever Champions League victory, where he delivered two assists in the final against Inter Milan (5-0). As journalists from 100 countries prepare to weigh in, the debate over who will ultimately win the coveted award continues to intensify.