Lamine Yamal turns 17! Spain wonderkid enjoys lowkey birthday celebrations with his team-mates a day before Euro 2024 final... as Spanish press wish talented star many happy returns!

  • Spain's youngest-ever player, Lamine Yamal, turns 17 a day before the Euros final 
  • Yamal's teammates shared cake and candles during their last training session
  • LISTEN to It's All Kicking Off! EUROS DAILY : What moment changed the Euros for England? 

By Matthew Mcevoy

Published: | Updated:

Lamine Yamal's Spain team-mates have held a lowkey party to celebrate the Spanish wonderkid turning 17 years old on Saturday.  

But both he and his side will  be hoping to turn it into a proper celebration on Sunday, by beating England in the Euro 2024 final.  

The 17-year-old winger has been making records since he first turned out for the Spanish men's national team back in September 2023.


To celebrate, teammate Dani Olmo had earlier told Spanish press: 'We're going to celebrate with a cake, probably, and with a song.'

And celebrate with cake they did, as Olmo and friends presented him a large cake covered in candles and strawberries, during their final training session on Saturday.

Yamal gave a short speech to his teammates, saying: 'I'm very happy to spend my birthday here, and go to the final with all of you… The birthday present I want – to beat England!' 

Yamal celebrated his 17th birthday with cake and candles on Saturday, a day before the final

Yamal celebrated his 17th birthday with cake and candles on Saturday, a day before the final

The rest of of La Rojas will be hoping they can whip around to produce the biggest present of all – their first major trophy since 2012, when Yamal was just five-years-old.

Olmo heaped praise on his young compatriot, saying: 'Lamine is an amazing player. He has shown already what, at 16 years, I think not many players in history did.

The Spanish press had led the way with felicitations earlier in the day, printing front pages wishing the Barcelona winger a happy birthday.

Marca ran a Yamal quote for their headline, which said 'Mi madre todavía me dice que no vaya descalzo' – which roughly translates as 'My mother tells me not to go barefoot!'

AS's backpage was a pic of Yamal and fellow new boy, Nico Williams, who celebrated his 22nd birthday on Friday, sharing a cake.

tarted both of La Roja's games so far as Spain sit top of Group B

The now-17-year-old has been breaking records for Spain since his debut in September 2023

Marca's Yamal headline quote translates as 'My mother tells me not to go barefoot!'

Marca's Yamal headline quote translates as 'My mother tells me not to go barefoot!'

Sport ran the now-famous picture of a young Lionel Messi holding baby Yamal in 2007

Sport ran the now-famous picture of a young Lionel Messi holding baby Yamal in 2007

AS shared a pic of Yamal and fellow new boy, Nico Williams, sharing a birthday cake

AS shared a pic of Yamal and fellow new boy, Nico Williams, sharing a birthday cake

Yamal's dad, Mounir Nasraoui (left), believes his son (right) is not worried about taking on England in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday

Yamal's dad, Mounir Nasraoui (left), believes his son (right) is not worried about taking on England in the Euro 2024 final on Sunday

Yamal's incredible semi-final strike against France was just one goal that's made him the youngest-ever goalscorer at a European Championship.

And by starting the game, he eclipses a record Pele's record as the youngest player to appear in a major tournament semi-final – one he held for over 67 years.

Speaking to ITV News, Yamal's dad Mounir Nasraoui has also spoken out ahead of the match and hopes his son will make a 'big mark' on Sunday's game. 

'Hopefully, he makes his mark. But I would like anyone to make their mark if it means taking the cup home. One must think of the team, not just the individual players,' he said.

'There are no in-betweens but to play as a group, provide support as a group, that is what's most important.'

Spain FootballLamine YamalSpain