- The 17-year-old Barcelona winger has shattered records since his debut.
- Lamine Yamal’s split from Alex Padilla made headlines after a social media controversy.
- Recently, he has been linked to a 19-year-old Italian model on TikTok.
For the uninitiated, Lamine Yamal is one of the biggest and brightest talents coming out of FC Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy.
The 17-year-old only made his debut with the Catalan club last season, aged 16, but has already amassed millions of adoring fans across the globe, drawing comparisons with another Barca academy product, the undisputed GOAT, Lionel Messi.
Lamine Yamal: Barcelona’s Wonderkid
Lamine Yamal has enjoyed a meteoric rise since his debut in Spain’s first division: the Spanish winger has broken several league records for his club, including youngest player to start a La Liga game in the 21st century, the youngest player to provide a La Liga assist in the 21st century, and youngest player to score in La Liga.
And his upward trajectory hasn’t exactly stopped there; he’s also become the youngest Barcelona debutant and goalscorer in the Champions League, the youngest player to start a Champions League match, and the youngest to provide an assist in Europe’s elite competition.
Related Stories
Lamine Yamal Spain Record
Yamal has already cemented himself as a first-team starter for Spain, achieving the unthinkable at just 16 years and 57 days when he made his senior debut in a EURO qualifier against Georgia. And, in true superstar fashion, Yamal marked the occasion with a goal in the 74th minute – a moment that not only made him the youngest debutant but also the youngest scorer in the history of La Roja.
For most players, such a record-breaking debut would be the pinnacle of their career. For Lamine Yamal? It was merely the opening act. That summer, he continued to rewrite history, becoming the youngest assist provider and scorer in the European Championships before crowning his incredible run as the youngest winner of, and player in, a Euros final at just 17 years and 1 day.
He became the youngest player to feature in El Clasico and later the youngest goalscorer in the iconic rivalry. As of May 2024, he set yet another milestone by becoming the youngest player to make 50 appearances for Barcelona, showcasing his consistency and importance to the squad.
Despite just being 17, Lamine Yamal is already a household name with Barcelona and the Spanish national team. Messi who?
Lamine Yamal’s Girlfriend
Of course, for footballers these days, on-pitch brilliance often goes hand in hand with off-pitch scrutiny, and Lamine Yamal is no exception. His meteoric rise from La Masia to first-team stardom has catapulted him into the global spotlight, amassing 24 million followers on Instagram whilst still in school.
Earlier this year, Yamal went through a high-profile break-up with TikTok influencer Alex Padilla following a social media controversy. You’ll remember what it was like to be in school with videos spreading like wildfire between classmates, jumping on any scandal that drops in the corridors or at the weekends. Now imagine you’re one of the biggest football talents in the world.
Videos surfaced of Padilla sitting on another boy’s lap, sending Yamal’s online fanbase into overdrive with rumours that eventually led to their split. The young Barcelona star unfollowed Padilla on Instagram, which, in today’s digital world, is pretty serious.
But Yamal hasn’t exactly stayed single for long, with rumours swirling about his new romantic connection: 19-year-old Italian model Anna Gegnoso. Recent speculation gained some momentum online when Gegnoso and her friend, fellow influencer Fabiola Baglieri, were spotted at the Estadi Olímpic to watch Barcelona’s clash against Las Palmas at the beginning of December.
Later that weekend, Yamal was seen out and about with Gegnoso in Barcelona, enjoying an intimate shopping spree in one of the Catalan capital’s most luxurious shopping districts, La Roca Village, where brands such as Burberry, Gucci and Prada line the manicured streets.
Who is Anna Gegnoso?
Anna Gegnoso may not boast millions of followers on socials like Lamine Yamal – but then again, she isn’t dribbling past defenders at Camp Nou or breaking records in La Liga and the Champions League.
On Instagram, Gegnoso boasts a respectable half a million followers, where her tailored content focuses on beauty, makeup, and her glamorous lifestyle in Italy. Her feed is a curated blend of fashion-forward posts, travel snaps, and personal updates, offering a glimpse into her life.
TikTok, however, is where Gegnoso shines brightest, with close to a million followers. Her videos, often featuring trendy makeup tutorials and snippets of her day-to-day life, have garnered significant attention, especially recently now that the news of her relationship with Barcelona’s wonderkid has gained traction recently. Yamal fans are certainly enjoying themselves in the comments.
For someone who thrives in the influencer space, the newfound attention may only enhance Anna Gegnoso’s profile as she steps into the spotlight alongside one of football’s brightest young stars.
