Lamine Yamal has finally revealed the story behind his wonder goal vs France in the Euro 2024 semifinal. A goal that broke the internet and remains one of the most famous goals the teenager has ever scored. In an interview with El Partidazo de Cope, Lamine Yamal revealed how he took motivation from the words that Rabiot said about him in the press conference.
The mocking words of Rabiot and Lamine’s reaction
In the semifinal of the Euro 2024, Spain and France were going head-to-head. Before the match, Rabiot, the French midfielder, said some daring words about Lamine in the press conference. āIf Lamine wants to play in the final, he will have to do more things than he has done so farā. The youngster’s initial reply came through an Instagram story that said: āMove in silence, only speak when it’s time to say checkmate”. What happened on the pitch is history to remember. In the 21st minute, Lamine Yamal lost his marker (Rabiot) by a body feint and took a shot at the goal. The ball went into the top corner perfectly, and the stadium and the football world alike erupted in disbelief.
The story behind Lamine’s motivation to score
Lamine Yamal told El Partidazo de Cope how his friend urged him to give a strong reply to Rabiot, not just on Instagram but on the pitch. Lamine Yamal: “I was sleeping before the France match in the Euros, and suddenly I woke up to a call from my friend who said: ‘Remember what Rabiot said about you.'”I told him: ‘Yes, don’t worry, I remember. The match started, and I didn’t score, so I looked at the stands and saw him gesture to me as if to say: ‘Remember what he said.’ Then I got really excited and started running non-stop… That’s how I get motivated.” The result was a goal that is already one of the most iconic goals in football history.
They meet again
Lamine Yamal will meet France again this Thursday in the Nations League semifinals; however, this time, there is a lot more at stake than just the final. The youngster has been incredible since Hansi Flick’s arrival and has had what football fans regard as a Ballon d’Or worthy season. Ousmane Dembele is another candidate for the award, mainly due to lifting the Champions League. This match can be a big decider as to who lifts the Ballon d’Or at the end of the year. When asked about it, Lamine Yamal said, “If you want us to decide the Ballon d’Or on Thursday, let’s decide it on Thursday”.
