ARLINGTON, Texas — Most 19-year-olds celebrate birthdays with friends, cake and presents. But Spanish superstar Lamine Yamal spent his speaking to hundreds of reporters from all over the world less than 24 hours before the biggest game of his life.
“Thank you all for coming to my birthday party,” Yamal said with a smile when he sat down for his prematch press conference Monday.
Yamal turned 19 on the eve of Spain’s blockbuster World Cup semifinal against France.
The timing only adds another layer to the remarkable rise of the Barcelona phenom, whose combination of swagger, creativity and fearlessness has drawn inevitable comparisons to Lionel Messi, the player many in Catalonia have long hoped would someday have a successor.
Yamal has collected multiple Man of the Match honors during Spain’s march to the semifinals despite producing just one goal and no assists.
His fingerprints are everywhere even when they don’t appear on the scoresheet.
“I’m not concerned with scoring or not scoring,” Yamal said. “All tournaments are different. It’s not because of the national team coach or tactics that I haven’t scored. I’m not concerned because we are winning. Growing up I watched Spain get kicked out of the competition. I want us to go deep into the tournament. Hopefully tomorrow I can score another goal.”
His confidence has become nearly as captivating as his left foot.
After Spain eliminated Belgium, Yamal declared France should fear Spain, not the other way around, pointing to Spain’s victories over Les Bleus in the semifinals of the Euros and Nations League, respectively.
“They asked me if I feared France and I said no,” Yamal said. “We are European champions and we don’t fear anyone.”
France never took the bait.
“We don’t fear anyone either,” midfielder Adrien Rabiot said.
Defender Jules Koundé, Yamal’s teammate at Barcelona, dismissed the remarks as competitive confidence.
“We never felt a lack of respect from his comments,” Kounde said. “For me, it’s a show of confidence. He trusts a lot in the virtues of the team in which he plays.”
French midfielder Warren Zaïre-Emery broadened the conversation beyond Spain’s teenage sensation.
“Before talking about Lamine Yamal, we should talk about all of Spain,” Zaïre-Emery said. “They have world-class players in every position.”
Even France manager Didier Deschamps acknowledged the challenge.
“He’s part of the players who can really make a difference on the pitch,” Deschamps said. “When it comes to one-versus-one, it could be tough.”
The World Cup has also turned Yamal into an American phenomenon.
The city of Chattanooga, Tenn., where Spain made its base camp, has embraced him, while national advertising campaigns with McDonald’s, Gatorade and Adidas have introduced him to millions of new fans.
“It’s great and something beautiful,” Yamal said. “Football has given me the opportunity to become well known in Chattanooga. I would have never imagined going out for a walk in the U.S. and for people to know me. I’m very proud of that.”
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Perhaps nothing has connected with American audiences more than his relationship with Keyne, the energetic toddler who has become a fan favorite by dancing, waving and cheering at Spain matches. After Spain’s quarterfinal victory over Belgium, Yamal smiled as the stadium cameras found his little brother celebrating on the video board by sticking his tongue out.
“I’m moved when I see my little brother this happy,” Yamal said. “As well as seeing my mum and friends living the life they always dreamed of.”
So how does football’s newest global superstar spend the final hours of his teenage birthday before the biggest match of his life?
“I’m very relaxed,” Yamal said with a grin. “My little brother wants to cut his hair, so I had to call the hairdresser. That’s what I’m going to do today.”
