Lamine Yamal is one of football’s brightest young stars. He’s just 18 years old, but his sights are set on the biggest individual award in the game. You might think he dreams of winning a single Golden Ball. But you’d be wrong. He dreams of winning many of them. That’s the kind of ambition that separates him from the pack.
Yamal shared this lofty goal with his friends and the ‘Resonancia de Corazon’ podcast. He truly believes in his ability. If he doesn’t achieve it, he feels it will be his own fault for not doing things right. While individual awards would make him happy, he also made it clear that winning with his team, Barcelona, remains a huge priority. His drive isn’t just about personal glory, though. It’s also deeply rooted in his family’s story.
His family faced tough times growing up. Yamal remembered living in a small apartment where the kitchen doubled as a bedroom. He wanted to change that. Once he found success, he bought a house. He asked his mother where she wanted it to be. Seeing her smile now brings him immense satisfaction. He cherishes the thought that his younger brother will have a childhood he only wished for himself. His father is comfortable in his own home. Yamal says his mother can have anything she desires. “She is my queen,” he shared, highlighting his deep love and respect for her.
His mother always pushed him to study. Football often took priority over books for young Yamal. She even threatened to stop him from playing if his grades slipped. One day, at La Masía, Barcelona’s famous youth academy, he had a frank talk with her. He told her he would go to school, but wouldn’t actually study. His plan was to prepare for afternoon training instead. She was shocked and asked what he meant. He explained that if he put all his focus into football, he would become a professional player.
His mother kept scolding him daily about studying. She even did it on the day of his professional debut. But eventually, she understood. She saw his unwavering commitment. Football was his dream, and he went after it with everything he had. That determination is now paying off, not just for him, but for his entire family.