Lamine Yamal reaches World Cup final after early rise from Rocafonda

Lamine Yamal is set to become the third-youngest player to appear in a World Cup final when Spain meets Argentina on Sunday, according to Fortune. The 19-year-old forward’s rise has made him one of the sport’s most closely watched young stars, from a childhood in Rocafonda to Barcelona and Spain’s biggest matches.

Fortune reported that Yamal grew up in Rocafonda, a working-class neighborhood in Mataró, Catalonia, about 20 miles northeast of Barcelona. The area is described as a migrant hub, and Fortune said studies suggest about half of its residents live below the poverty line.

Yamal has spoken publicly about his family’s circumstances. In an interview with Spanish radio station Cadena SER, he said his mother had him at 16 and that his father sometimes searched the streets for things to collect so he could bring food home. Yamal told the station that those experiences shaped his view of pressure.

His father, Mounir Nasraoui, moved to Rocafonda from Morocco, while his mother, Sheila Ebana, came from Equatorial Guinea, according to Fortune. Yamal has continued to signal his attachment to the neighborhood by flashing “304” after goals, a reference to Rocafonda’s 08304 postal code.

From La Masia to Spain’s senior team

Barcelona spotted Yamal when he was six, while he was playing for a local club near home, Fortune reported. He later entered the club’s youth setup at La Masia, the academy associated with Lionel Messi, Xavi and Andrés Iniesta, and joined Barcelona at age seven.

At 15, Yamal made his debut for Barcelona’s first team, becoming the club’s youngest player to do so since 1922, according to Fortune. That appearance started a run of age records that continued with his club and his national team.

Fortune reported that Yamal debuted for Spain at 16 in a Euro 2024 qualifier against Georgia. The following month, he scored against Granada and became the youngest scorer in La Liga history.

In 2024, he helped Spain win its fourth European Championship and was named the tournament’s Young Player of the Tournament, according to Fortune. Later that year, he received the Kopa Trophy at France Football’s Ballon d’Or ceremony.

By the end of Barcelona’s 2024-25 season, Yamal had recorded 18 goals and 25 assists, Fortune reported. The outlet also listed him as the youngest Barcelona player to reach 50 official appearances, the youngest scorer for Spain’s national team and the youngest player to appear in a European Championship final.

Earnings rise with his profile

Yamal’s success has also brought major paydays. ESPN estimated last year that he earned about $43 million, including $33 million from playing income and about $10 million away from the field, placing him 10th on its list of the sport’s highest-paid players.

CNN reported that Yamal signed a long-term Barcelona contract extension running through the 2030-31 season. Fortune cited reports that the deal pays him about €19 million a year, or roughly $21.5 million.

At the World Cup, Fortune reported that Yamal scored against Saudi Arabia 10 minutes into his tournament debut in Spain’s second group-stage match. The goal made him the second-youngest player to open the scoring in a World Cup match, behind Pelé in 1958.

Fortune reported that Yamal could earn hundreds of thousands of dollars if Spain beats Argentina in Sunday’s final. The match gives him a chance to add a World Cup title to a résumé already crowded with records before age 20.

This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.