Spain's Lamine Yamal, 16, becomes youngest player to appear, set up goal at European Championship
Spain's Lamine Yamal follows the action during a Group B match between Spain and Croatia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)
BERLIN (AP) — Lamine Yamal became the youngest player ever to appear at a European Championship on Saturday when he started for Spain in its tournament-opening game against Croatia.
Croatia's Mateo Kovacic, left, vies for the ball with Spain's Fabian Ruiz and Lamine Yamal, right, during a Group B match between Spain and Croatia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits)
He also became the youngest player to set up a goal at the tournament when he crossed for Dani Carvajal to score Spain’s third goal before the break. Enzo Scifo was 18 when he set up a goal for Belgium against Yugoslavia in 1984.
Spain's Lamine Yamal, left, plays the ball during a Group B match between Spain and Croatia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Lamine Yamal was set to become the youngest player ever to play at a European Championship on Saturday when he was named in Spain's starting lineup for its Group B-opening game against Croatia. (Soeren Stache/dpa via AP)
Yamal was 16 years, 338 days. The previous youngest record-holder was Kacper Kozlowski of Poland, who was 17 years, 246 days in 2021 when he played against Spain.
It's Yamal's eighth appearance for Spain. He played 47 games in the Spanish league and Champions League for Barcelona last season.
Yamal will turn 17 the day before the Euro 2024 final on July 14 in Berlin.
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AP Euro 2024: https://apnews.com/hub/euro-2024
Spain's Lamine Yamal, center, challenges for the ball with Croatia's Josko Gvardiol, left, and Croatia's Marin Pongracic, right, during a Group B match between Spain and Croatia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. Lamine Yamal was set to become the youngest player ever to play at a European Championship on Saturday when he was named in Spain's starting lineup for its Group B-opening game against Croatia. (AP Photo/Petr Josek)
Spain's Lamine Yamal, center, runs with the ball next to Croatia's Josko Gvardiol during to a Group B match between Spain and Croatia at the Euro 2024 soccer tournament in Berlin, Germany, Saturday, June 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez)