Four years ago, the soccer world was focused on Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi. Now, a new star has emerged: Lamine Yamal, Spain's "Superboy."
Yamal was recently named La Liga Player of the Year after helping Barcelona win back-to-back league titles.
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He could become the most recognizable face in the world by the end of this summer.
While Mbappé and Messi battled in the 2022 World Cup, Yamal was rising through Barcelona's famed La Masia academy.
Like Messi before him, Yamal was identified early as a special talent.
Barcelona was so confident in his potential that they set his buyout clause at over $1 billion when he was just 15.
A famous photo shows Messi bathing a baby Yamal.
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From Debut to Euro Hero
Yamal made his Spain debut at age 16 and scored his first goal as a substitute against Georgia.
He quickly became an instrumental member of the team.
At Euro 2024, he was a vital factor in Spain's success. He scored against France in the semifinals and assisted the opening goal in the final against England.
Now, Yamal enters the World Cup as one of the top players in the tournament. Despite being just 18, he is no longer just a prospect.
His form with Barcelona and Spain makes him arguably the best player at this World Cup.
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A World Cup triumph would elevate him to legendary status, especially in the United States.
