Lamine’s Journey: From Street Football to Record Ascent Ahead of Napoli Clash

As FC Barcelona prepares to face Napoli in the Champions League, Lamine Yamal reflects on his roots and embraces a personal milestone. In an interview with Movistar Plus+, Lamine reminisces about his beginnings in Mataró and the early days of his love affair with FC Barcelona. This heartfelt conversation captures the essence of Lamine’s journey, as he shares anecdotes from his childhood playing in the streets of Rocafonda.

Lamine Yamal, a footballer shaped by the grassroots game, reveals the source of his passion for football at a young age. “I remember coming out, at four years old, to the street with my friends after school, and right in front of my house was Rocafonda Park. There I saw my father and my older cousin playing football. It was the first time I saw a ball, and I fell in love with it. I think I’ve spent more time in the park than at home. Every time I went out, it was to play football,” recalls Lamine Yamal, with a playful spirit.

In the traditional spirit of schoolyard and street football, Lamine occasionally found himself defending the goal: “Sometimes, I played as a goalkeeper, and they hit me in the face, and it didn’t hurt, I didn’t cry.” However, the rough terrain left its marks, just like any other street footballer: “I always went home with wounds, and my grandmother would ask where I had been. I also remember that when it rained, you fell, and you got all wet.”

Contrasting with those early days is his current stage, having joined the youth ranks of FC Barcelona at a very young age. Here, he honed his talent, quickly rising to the top and breaking records along the way. Reflecting on his start, Lamine admits, “On the first day, I didn’t even know how to warm up, didn’t know how to do anything.” Nevertheless, he cherishes those initial moments as “a beautiful start that I remember with great affection. It was incredible for me.”

Since then, his ascent to the first team and the national squad has been unstoppable. Hence, he acknowledges that, for him, “Barça is my home, it’s everything.” As he looks forward to the Napoli clash, Lamine carries the spirit of his early football days, bridging the gap from the streets of Rocafonda to the grand stage of the Champions League.