How did “prodigy” Lamine Yamal manage to study for exams while playing for the Spanish national team?
Having balanced studying for exams with playing for the national team, prodigy Lamine Yamal is now Spain’s greatest hope at the World Cup.
At 18, Lamine Yamal is already a name known worldwide whenever the Spanish national team takes to the field. After just two matches at the 2026 World Cup, the young Barcelona talent has scored, broken records, and is considered the leader of La Roja’s attack. Yet, just two years ago, Yamal’s life was very different: training with the national team during the day and studying for his final exams at night.
It’s hard to imagine that during Spain’s journey to conquer EURO 2024, the then 16-year-old hadn’t even finished high school. While his teammates focused on preparing for each match, Yamal had to carry his books to complete the ESO exams – the compulsory secondary education program in Spain. The days spent training with the national team became a special period as he had to divide his time between the football field and his studies.
That effort finally paid off. Just a few days before the EURO 2024 final against England, after a training session, Yamal received the news that he had passed his exams. The first thing he did was call his mother to share the good news. While all of Europe awaited the final, the 16-year-old had completed a very ordinary milestone for a student, but in an extraordinary way.
Lamine Yamal impresses at the 2026 World Cup (Photo: Reuters)
According to journalist Luis Castro Luna of the Spanish National Radio, this detail shows Yamal’s rare maturity. “Even in the middle of the EURO, he still took time to study and complete his exams. Another player in that situation might have put their studies aside because they were already a star. But Yamal didn’t. That clearly reflects his sense of responsibility and seriousness,” he commented.
Luis Castro Luna believes that this personality is the foundation that helped Yamal develop faster than most talents his age. Despite becoming famous at a very young age, the player born in 2007 still maintains the image of a cheerful, playful 18-year-old who always enjoys football.
Yamal once played for the Spanish national team while studying for exams.
If EURO 2024 marked Yamal’s debut on the world football map, then the 2026 World Cup is the stage for him to solidify his position. In the 4-0 victory against Saudi Arabia, Yamal scored in his first World Cup start, equaling the record set by legendary Pele at a very young age. The Barcelona player continues to extend his record for the youngest age to play for the Spanish national team.
Yamal even has more impressive developmental statistics than Lionel Messi at the same age.
“Statistically, Yamal is doing what Messi used to do, but at a younger age. The most important thing now is to maintain that level for many years to come,” a Spanish journalist assessed.
Yamal’s biggest change isn’t in the numbers, but in his role in the national team. Two years ago, he was a precious gem that needed to be protected. Now, whenever Spain faces difficulties, his teammates proactively seek the ball out to the 18-year-old’s feet.
After scoring against Saudi Arabia, Yamal himself couldn’t hide his emotions as he recalled his journey. “I’ve always dreamed of playing in the World Cup. Scoring in my first start felt like a dream come true. I still remember watching the World Cup matches at school, and now I’m on the pitch. It’s unbelievable.”
On the morning of June 26th (Vietnam time), Spain faced Uruguay in a crucial match to determine the winner of Group H. And just like two years ago, all eyes were on the boy who once brought his textbooks to the team’s headquarters, but who has now become the greatest hope of an entire football nation.
