The young Barça striker, who will soon be 17, scored an exceptional goal on Tuesday evening during La Roja’s victory over France (2-1). Enough to make his hometown proud.
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He dazzled the world with his talent during Spain’s victory against France (2-1), Tuesday July 9 in the Euro semi-final. At 16 years old, Spanish striker Lamine Yamal became the youngest scorer in the history of major international competitions. The FC Barcelona prodigy is the great revelation of this Euro and is the pride of the working-class neighborhood where he grew up, 30 kilometers north of Barcelona, in Mataro. Franceinfo went there.
On the terrace of the Imperial bar, at the foot of the buildings of a working-class district of Mataro, Abdulah, Abdeslam and Tarik have a hard time believing it. They are savouring Spain’s victory and this splendid goal by Lamine Yamal, a curling shot into the top corner for the equaliser (21st), by this 16-year-old kid they have seen grow up. “It’s wonderful! Lamine Yamal is a great player, it was great. Thanks to him, we are so happy!”they cry in chorus.
The young striker’s father and grandmother, originally from northern Morocco, still live in the Rocafonda neighbourhood, which welcomed workers from southern Spain in the 1960s before welcoming Moroccans. Raquel, a neighbour of the family, had a lovely evening. “Everyone came out into the streets to celebrate the victory. It makes me happy because we often talk about Mataro for the wrong reasons. But this is something positive!”she assures.
The Rocafonda neighborhood, located 15 minutes walk from the city center and the beach, is not a ghetto. The streets are well maintained but almost half of its inhabitants live below the poverty line. Young Lamine Yamal is therefore an example for many residents, especially young people. “He has a lot of friends and family here, everyone knows him. It’s a great source of pride.”adds Tarik, in French.
The young footballer has not forgotten his neighbourhood. He often returns there and whenever he scores, he draws the number 304 with his fingers, which is the postal code of Rocafonda.