From Rocafonda to rock star at the World Cup: The rise of Lamine Yamal
Braces-wearing teen phenom Lamine Yamal is ready to take center stage in the 2026 World Cup.
Lamine Yamal, braces and all, is already the face of soccer in Spain.Johnnie Izquierdo - FIFA via Getty ImagesThe anticipation began to build as soon as the charter buses carrying the Spanish national team came into view.Hundreds of banner-toting, jersey-waving fans crammed against a chain-link fence across from the downtown Chattanooga Embassy Suites earlier this month, smartphones aloft, necks craned, feet on tiptoes.
While Spain's array of world-class players each received enthusiastic cheers and applause as they emerged from the bus, fans saved their most ear-splitting shrieks for international soccer's most electrifying young superstar. "Lamine! Lamine!"
they chanted as 18-year-old phenom Lamine Yamal tipped his cap and waved politely before grabbing his luggage and disappearing through the hotel doors."There were about 1,500 people there greeting the team, and I bet 1,000 of them were wearing Yamal jerseys," said former U.S.
men's national team general manager Bill Nuttall, who was instrumental in positioning Chattanooga as a potential World Cup training base for Spain. "When Yamal got off the bus, it was like listening to a jet engine, there was so much screaming and yelling." World Cup 2026: Daily schedule | Group schedule, results | StandingsThe rockstar treatment that Yamal has received in Chattanooga is a testament to the Barcelona winger's global fame.
A teenager who isn't yet licensed to drive a car or liberated from wearing braces has drawn frequent comparisons to another left-footed legend who emerged from Barcelona's academy. Many consider Yamal to be the heir apparent to Lionel Messi because of his blend of exquisite technique and jaw-dropping creativity with the ball at his feet. Yamal is already the face of high-profile ad campaigns launched by Adidas, American Eagle and McDonald's.
His 43.5 million Instagram followers are more than Shohei Ohtani, Patrick Mahomes and Roger Federer combined. Last weekend, a towering Powerade advertisement featuring
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