Yamal’s professional football career is full of vitality. At just 17 years old, he has almost broken all the records for young players in La Liga and Europe. Now, he can proudly add the 2024 Kopa Trophy, awarded to the best player under 21, to his collection of personal accolades. Additionally, his name has been included on the Ballon d’Or candidate list.
In his acceptance speech, Yamal said, “I want to thank my father, mother, and grandmother. I also want to thank the coaching staff, whether it’s Xavi or now Flick, as well as my teammates. Go Barcelona, and cheers to the 304 postal code area (the Roca Funda neighborhood in Mataró where he grew up).”
He also mentioned, “It is very exciting to participate in such an award ceremony, but this is not the end. We are eager to win more titles, such as the league championship, the Champions League, and the Copa del Rey, among other honors. We will go all out. Personally, the Ballon d’Or is every professional player’s dream. I hope to achieve this dream as soon as possible and will work tirelessly for it.”
Whether with the Spanish national team or Barcelona, Yamal has become an indispensable member. This summer, he played a key role in helping the national team win the European Championship, scoring the winning goal against France in the semi-final and contributing four assists throughout the tournament.
Despite failing to win any trophies with the club last season, Yamal successfully solidified his position in Barcelona’s first team, playing 37 league matches, scoring 5 goals, and providing 7 assists; in the Champions League, he participated in 10 games, although without scoring, he provided two assists. In the new season, under the leadership of new head coach Flick, Yamal’s performance has taken another step forward. Although the season has just begun, he has already matched his league goal tally from last season (5 goals) and has 6 assists, one short of last season’s total. Additionally, in the Champions League, he finally scored his first goal and once again provided an assist.
