Lamine Yamal, the Barcelona rising star born on July 13, 2007, will turn 18 this summer. As one of the most highly regarded young footballers in the world today, Yamal has a very clear goal: he wants to win the Champions League with Barcelona and help the Spanish national team win the World Cup. In a recent interview with AS, the young talent shared his plans for the future and his passion for football.
Progress in football and room for growth
Yamar admits that his playing style has improved significantly over the past few months. He says: “I used to play it simple, always opting for the safest pass because I didn’t want to lose the ball.” However, as his confidence grew, he began to try more adventurous moves, such as more complex dribbles and more creative passes. “I now enjoy the game more and am willing to take on more responsibility,” says Yamar. “Although my level has improved, I’m still young and have a lot to learn.”
Although Yarmol has already ranked second in offensive ability in the CIES Football Observatory rankings, he doesn’t pay much attention to these statistics. “Statistics don’t fully reflect the essence of football,” he says. “Sometimes you can make beautiful moves, but if the team doesn’t benefit from it, it’s meaningless. I prefer to look at the game as a whole and analyze the contribution of each player to the team.”
Pressure to score and key moments
Yamal admits that as a striker, scoring goals is his responsibility, but he doesn’t feel pressured if he doesn’t score for a few days. “The most important thing is to play well, win and enjoy the process,” he says. “If the team wins, other things are less important.”
When it comes to crucial goals, Yarmolenko recalls the winning goal against France in last year’s European Championship. “That goal changed my career,” he says. “Before that, I just tried to contribute to the team; but after that, I realized that I could do more, become a central figure in the team and step up in difficult moments.”
The Clasico: the decisive battle of the season
The Spanish Primera Liga is currently very competitive, with Real Madrid and Barcelona tied on points and both teams fighting for the title. Yarmol believes that the Spanish national derby at Montjuïc in May will be the turning point of the entire season. “The team that makes fewer mistakes will win,” he says. “Barcelona and Real Madrid are top teams that rarely concede points. This match will decide the championship.”
In addition, Yamar also mentioned the match against Atlético Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolis Stadium last Sunday. “It was a very important match, but it is only part of our journey to the final goal. We must ensure that we remain focused in every match and avoid unexpected losses.”
Champions League winner: the biggest expectation of Barça fans
In addition to the Spanish league, Yamar also has a special attachment to the Champions League. “It’s a tournament I’ve loved since I was a child,” he says. “When I was little, I used to stay up late with my parents to watch the Champions League. The atmosphere fascinated me.” When asked if he is looking forward to the Barcelona vs. Real Madrid final in Munich on May 31, Yamar replies: “As long as Barça reaches the final, it doesn’t matter who the opponent is. However, if it’s against Real Madrid, the match will be even more special.”
Double or Champions League?
If he had to choose between winning the double (Spanish league and cup) and the Champions League, Yarmolenko would not hesitate. “For any Barça fan, winning the Champions League is the most special,” he says. “Of course, our aim is to win the treble. But if I had to choose, I’d go for the Champions League.”
National team goals
In terms of the national team, Yarmolenko is looking forward to the upcoming Nations League qualifiers, especially the game against the Netherlands. “It’s a title I’ve always wanted to win,“ he says. ‘It’s an honor to play for Spain, and I’ll give it my all.”
Thoughts on the packed schedule
Some veteran players complain about the hectic schedule of modern football, but Yarmolenko has a different view. ’Young players like us just want to play as much as possible,” he says. “Football is not just our job, it’s also our passion. For me, 72 hours of rest is a bit too long – I can’t wait to play the next game!”
Contract renewal and future plans
With regard to contract renewal, Mascherano is very calm. “No one is thinking about that right now,” he says, “all the focus is on how to end the season with a title. I just want to concentrate on the games and help Barcelona win. We’ll talk about contract renewal after the season.”
Individual awards and team achievements
Yarmolenko has won the Golden Boy award, but he believes that individual honors should be based on team success. “First, Barcelona must win the championship,” he said, “and individual titles will follow, but the most important thing right now is the team.”
When asked about the artificial intelligence prediction that he might win the Ballon d’Or for the first time in 2029, Yarmolenko responded with a smile: “I hope that day comes sooner. If I win the Ballon d’Or, it will be because I have won the Champions League with Barcelona or the World Cup with Spain. Those are the two biggest dreams of my life.”
Life and hobbies during Ramadan
As a Muslim, Yamar is currently experiencing Ramadan. He says that the pace of life changes during this time: “I wake up at 4 a.m. every day for breakfast, then continue with training and prayer. Electrolyte drinks help me stay hydrated throughout the day.”
In addition to football, Yamar has also developed an interest in cooking. ‘My mum taught me a lot,’ he says, ‘and I like to cook.’ He also reveals that he is very interested in the octopus in the documentary and laughs, saying, ”Keeping an octopus is about observing them, not cooking them.”
School and life trivia
Yamal recently completed the final year of compulsory education (ESO) in Spain and graduated successfully. “It was a wonderful summer,” he said, “not only did I get my degree, I also won the European Cup with the Spanish national team.”
As for the driving test, Yamal revealed that he is taking driving lessons and hopes to pass the theory test first time. ‘My dream car will definitely not be white,’ he said with a smile, ”the details are confidential for now.”
Summary
Lamine Yamal is a young player with great potential who displays maturity beyond his years, both on and off the field. Whether he is chasing the Champions League title or fulfilling his dream of playing in the World Cup, Yamal is writing his own legend in his own way.
