"I Am Spanish".. Lamine Yamal Reveals Why He Rejected the Moroccan National Team

Barcelona's gem, Lamine Yamal, revealed the reason he chose to reject the Moroccan national team, stating that he feels Spanish—in his own words—during an interview with the American network CBS's "60 Minutes" program on Monday.

1. Choosing Spain and Sense of Belonging

• Reason for Rejection: Lamine Yamal insisted, "I am Spanish," as the reason he chose to represent Spain instead of Morocco.

• Ambition: The 18-year-old player said he chose a national team that aims to achieve everything, expressing his excitement for the upcoming World Cup: "I want to reach the World Cup in my best form, I think Spain has a team that will be great for a long time."

• Background: Yamal was born in Barcelona to a Moroccan father and a mother from Equatorial Guinea, and he has spent most of his life in Barcelona.

• Record: Lamine Yamal made his debut for Spain in September 2023 at the age of 16 years and 57 days, becoming the youngest player to play and score for the Spanish national team.

2. "I Don't Want to Be Messi"

Yamal clarified his position regarding comparisons to the Barcelona and Argentina legend, Lionel Messi:

• Respect and Rejection of Imitation: Lamine Yamal confirmed his respect for Messi, calling him "the best ever," but he rejected the idea of imitating his career.

• Own Path: He stressed his desire to write his own story, saying: "I respect him... but we both know I don't want to be Messi, and Leo knows that, I want to take my own path."

3. His Mother's Influence

The Barcelona star spoke about the significant role his mother plays in his life:

• Importance: He described his mother as "the Queen" who does not care about goals.

• Last Fear: He revealed that the last time he felt fear was when he returned from his recent controversial vacation and had to go to his mother's house.

• Family Leadership: He said: "She is in charge of me, and I listen to her and I am happy about that."