The front page of Spain’s biggest sports newspaper, Marca, recently shouted “LAMINE YA!” as rumors spread about whether teenage football star Lamine Yamal would sign a new contract with FC Barcelona.
Yamal, who turns 18 in July, is expected to renew his contract before his birthday. His agent, Jorge Mendes, confirmed this to reporters last week.
Barcelona’s sporting director, Deco, denied media reports that Yamal’s camp had asked for him to become the highest-paid player on the team. Still, local media suggested that his salary could jump tenfold to over 15 million euros ($17 million) a year after taxes.
No matter the amount, these figures are far removed from Yamal’s modest beginnings.
A Humble Start
Yamal grew up in Rocafonda, a tough, working-class neighborhood in Mataró, about 32 kilometers (20 miles) north of Barcelona. The area is far from the glitz of the Catalan capital.
He learned football on the streets of Rocafonda, where nearly half of the 11,000 residents are considered at risk of poverty, according to Spain’s national statistics agency. Many buildings are in poor condition, and some don’t even have elevators. A local community center supports children struggling in school.
Rocafonda is a multicultural place, with people from 88 nationalities. Arabic halal butchers line the streets. Rent can average $1,334 a month, which is a heavy burden for many families. Evictions happen regularly.
Yet, for this community, Yamal is a beacon of hope.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Graffiti near the local football field reads, “In Rocafonda, more Lamine Yamals and fewer evictions.”
Children play nearby, dreaming they could follow in his footsteps. Mohammed Kaddouri, who is just a year younger than Yamal, says the star has inspired both boys and girls to play football.
“Since Lamine made it, everyone believes they can too,” he says.
Damia Castillo, another 16-year-old who met Yamal when he visited family, said: “He talks to us like he’s just another guy. He’s from here. That makes you believe, maybe it could be me too.”
Yamal’s skills were shaped by playing with older, tougher kids on the streets. “He learned fast, and he stayed humble,” said family friend Mohammed Ben Serghine.
At Bar El Cordobes, a local hangout for Yamal’s father, a signed Barcelona shirt with Yamal’s photo hangs on the wall. His father once shared a photo of baby Lamine being held by Lionel Messi during a UNICEF event. At the time, Messi was 20, and Yamal was just five months old. “Two beginnings of two legends,” the caption read.
Breaking Records and Staying Grounded
According to ESPN’s Ryan O’Hanlon, Yamal’s performance as a 17-year-old is ahead of Messi’s at the same age. He placed Yamal among the top teenage footballers in history, along with Michael Owen and Kylian Mbappe.
Yamal never forgets where he came from. During a match against France at Euro 2024, he celebrated a goal by flashing “3-0-4” with his fingers—Rocafonda’s postal code (08304).
At Bar Familia L Y 304 Rocafonda, owned by Yamal’s uncle, the walls are covered in photos and shirts. In one corner sits a small plastic replica of the World Cup, a quiet wish that one day Yamal might lift the real trophy for Spain.
Family First
Yamal’s journey began with his maternal grandmother, Fatima, who moved to Spain from Morocco 30 years ago. She worked in an elderly care home and brought over her seven children.
Yamal’s mother, Sheila Ebana, is from Equatorial Guinea. After separating from Yamal’s father, she moved away from Rocafonda and enrolled him in a local football club in Granollers. Despite struggles, she gave him a loving childhood.
“Maybe it wasn’t the easiest childhood, but all I saw was the beauty, thanks to her,” Yamal said in an interview on Instagram.
His mother now has over 250,000 followers on Instagram and lives in Barcelona. His father has also moved to the city.
Changing the Game—and Expectations
Yamal began playing football at age five with CF La Torreta, a small club in Granollers. Club president Jordi Vizcaino remembers him fondly.
“He was just a little kid, and now I see him playing for Barcelona and Spain. It’s still hard to believe,” Vizcaino said.
Rocio Escandell, head of Rocafonda’s neighborhood association, says Yamal has changed how people view their future.
“He put Rocafonda on the world map. People now believe they can become something—whether it’s a footballer, a doctor, or anything else.”
Her nine-year-old daughter, Abril, proves that. She dreams of becoming the next Lamine.
“I score more and more goals. When I grow up, I want to be like Lamine,” she said.
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