Yamal, 16, destroys Rabiot, 29, on and off the pitch after France star sparked ’embarrassing’ feud with Spanish teen
SPAIN wonderkid Lamine Yamal had the last laugh in his feud with France star Adrien Rabiot.
The 16-year-old fired his country into the Euro 2024 final with a stunning goal in the 2-1 victory over Les Bleus.
Yamal brilliantly cut in from the right as a bamboozled Rabiot, 29, failed to close down the Barcelona ace, allowing him to bend a brilliant effort from range into the top corner.
It was the ultimate revenge on the French midfielder after he bizarrely started a war of words with the teenager during his pre-match press conference.
Ahead of the game, Rabiot said: “It is always complicated to manage a semi-final in a tournament like this – but it will be up to us to put the pressure on him [Yamal] above all.
“Not to let him feel comfortable and show him that to play in a Euro final he will have to do much more than what he has done so far.”
Yamal initially hit back with a cryptic post on social media, which read: “Move in silence only speak when it’s time to say checkmate.”
And it’s fair to say he lived up to his words as Yamal did his talking on the pitch.
His goal was sensational and he was a constant threat down the right-wing as France struggled to lay a glove on Spain.
But Yamal was not finished putting his beef with Rabiot to bed and taunted him one last time.
As Spain celebrated after the final whistle, the young star turned to the camera and shouted: “Speak now.”
Yamal was then quizzed on his comments post-match, replying: “Well, the person that I am talking about, this person will know who this person is.
“I’m just really happy about reaching the final and really happy about my team.”
Gary Lineker slammed Rabiot on the Rest is Football podcast, saying: It was wrong and poor.”
Micah Richards labelled the Juventus player as “embarrassing” and said: “He shouldn’t even have been starting as Eduardo Camavinga should’ve started ahead of him. He is way better on the ball and has way more energy.”
Yamal turns 17-years-old on the eve of the final – but he has already made Euros history as he became the youngest ever player to score at the tournament.
It was a mix of experience and youth down Spain’s flank last night as 38-year-old Jesus Navas filled in at right-back.
Yamal was just two-years-old when the veteran made his international debut in 2009.
And his father is three years younger than Navas.
Age has not stopped Yamal’s road through the iconic La Masia academy into the Barcelona first-team.
But it is preventing him fully relaxing away from the pitch in Germany as he has brought his homework to the tournament.
Yamal revealed: “I have classes on the web and I’m doing well, I hope the teacher doesn’t fail me.”