Spain and Barcelona phenom Lamine Yamal wrote yet another chapter of history in La Roja's absorbing 2-1 victory over Germany in the quarter-finals of Euro 2024 on Sunday.
Still just 16 years of age, breaking records have been Yamal's bread and butter since he burst onto the Barcelona scene in 2023, culminating in him becoming an undisputed starter for Spain at Euro 2024.
The 2007-born attacker unsurprisingly featured from the off in Friday's quarter-final showdown against hosts Germany, where there were no goals to be had in a scrappy first half at the MHPArena.
However, Yamal was instrumental in Spain's opening strike in the second 45, playing a crisp pass from the right into Dani Olmo, who did the rest with a sweeping first-time finish into the bottom corner.
In doing so, the teenager recorded his third assist of Euro 2024, having also set up a Dani Carvajal effort against Croatia in the group stage and a Fabian Ruiz header in the last-16 thrashing of Georgia.
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Yamal sets new Euros assists record
Yamal's latest helper for Olmo saw the Barcelona prodigy become the first teenager to register three assists at a single edition of the men's European Championships or World Cup since data became available in 1966.
Spain's youngest-ever player has also become just the fourth man to set up three goals at a single Euros for La Roja, joining 2008 Cesc Fabregas, 2012 David Silva and 2021 Olmo in that esteemed pile.
From 12 matches in a Spain shirt, Yamal - who was not even a year old when Spain beat Germany in the Euro 2008 final - boasts two goals in addition to a striking nine assists, all of which have come in his last eight international matches.
While the teenager is already the youngest player to appear at the men's Euros, the record he so desires continues to elude him, as he is still waiting for the goal that would make him the youngest scorer that the tournament has ever seen.
That honour still belongs to Switzerland's Johan Vonlanthen, who was 18 years and 141 days when he netted for the Rossocrociati against France at Euro 2004, while Renato Sanches was also 18 when he struck for Portugal against Poland in the Euro 2016 knockout stage.
Spain suffer triple blow in Germany success
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Spain looked set to nick a narrow normal-time win thanks to Olmo's effort, only for Florian Wirtz to momentarily save Germany's bacon in the 89th minute of the match to force extra time.
Penalties were looming when Olmo sent an outswinging cross into the Germany box in the 119th minute, but Mikel Merino's majestic leap and header confirmed Spain's place in the last four in astounding fashion.
La Roja will take on 2018 World Cup winners France in the final four, but De la Fuente has been handed a triple blow for the semi-finals, firstly seeing Pedri forced off injured just eight minutes into Friday's match following a tackle from Toni Kroos.
The Spaniards have also lost defensive duo Carvajal and Robin Le Normand to disciplinary issues, as the former was sent off for two bookable offences in extra time, while the latter is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.
Olmo proved a more than capable deputy for Pedri, though, while Jesus Navas and Nacho Fernandez could be the ones to benefit from the defensive duo's suspensions.
Ben Knapton
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