Yamal: I was unhappy at school and had difficulty adapting to the class differences there.

Lamin Yamar is an iconic figure in world football. The Rocafontaine-born winger defeated Argentina in the final last July to lift his first World Cup trophy. At just 19 years old, Yamar is rapidly progressing through developmental stages and quickly becoming a part of football history, but it may be too early to say for sure.

Lamyn Yamar is an iconic figure in world football. The Rocafontaine-trained winger defeated Argentina in the final this July to lift his first World Cup trophy. At just 19 years old, Yamar is rapidly progressing through developmental stages and quickly becoming a part of football history, but it may be too early to say for sure. The La Masia prodigy began showing promise at a very young age.

In fact, he made his first-team debut at the age of 16, at which time he had almost no time to study because all his energy was focused on his professional career. Many people are curious about what Yamar was like off the field while building his brilliant sporting career, and what kind of education he received.

In fact, Lamin Yamal grew up in Rocafonta, a working-class neighborhood in Mataró, Barcelona. As for his education, he completed his primary education at the Pere Anton School, a school known for its music program, where Yamal often studied the trombone.

Yamal confessed: "One day I told my mother, 'I will go to school, but I won't do anything. I need to prepare for the afternoon training.' She couldn't understand and scolded me for wanting me to study. Even on the day I made my debut for Barcelona, she kept telling me I should go to class. In the end, she realized that it was my dream and gave me her support."

Playing in the European Cup while preparing for exams

He then completed his compulsory secondary education remotely through the La Masia training center of FC Barcelona and mentors who specialize in coaching elite athletes.

In 2025, Yamal himself revealed that he had decided to leave school in order to focus on his sporting career. As you might recall, during the 2024 European Championship, Yamal stated that he brought his study materials to the tournament to complete his compulsory secondary education, as he still had final exams at that time.

He said, "I had hoped to finish my university studies, but that path wasn't for me. I don't regret it at all; those experiences shaped me."

Yamar was one of the best players in that European Championship, scoring a brilliant goal in the semi-final against France and providing four assists throughout the tournament. All of this happened when he was not yet 17 years old, having turned 17 only the day before the final.

He felt uncomfortable at school.

In an interview with the José Ramón de la Morena Foundation, the Barcelona star said: "I initially studied at Granollers, and then transferred to the school arranged by La Masia, which is the one inside. I adapted well in the first year, but in the second year... I wasn't used to studying with people from different backgrounds and social classes than Mataro."

Lamin Yamal completed his compulsory secondary education during the 2024 European Championship. He also said: “I was out of touch with the curriculum and I wasn’t happy. I felt uncomfortable. Among the teachers and classmates… I got along well with my classmates from La Masia, but it wasn’t my place. I came from a community school where people from my neighborhood were there, including bakery owners and butchers.”

Yamal was a kid who grew up in the neighborhood, and whenever he had the chance, he would try his best to be his most authentic self. He loved a simple, unpretentious life.