Why teenage sensation Lamine Yamal needed a babysitter at the 2024 UEFA European Championship has reportedly been revealed.
Lamine Yamal took the world by storm at EURO 2024, when he broke several records on his way to lifting the title with Spain, in which he became the youngest ever player to win the tournament, aged 17.
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The youngster was simply sensational at the competition as he started in all seven of Spain's matches, contributing an impressive five assists and one goal.
Interestingly, his 17th birthday came just one day before the EURO 2024 final, and it was also reported that he had to write his exams during the showpiece, and fortunately he managed to pass.
Spain boss Luis de la Fuente has now revealed that the Spanish winger had to be supervised in the team hotel as Lamine Yamal is ultimately a minor, despite his incredible football talent.
"It is important we do our work as educators and developers; there's no escaping the fact that he was 16, a kid," De la Fuente told The Guardian.
"There are questions of privacy, protection. When the players went out to eat, he couldn't because he was underage.
"Someone with responsibility would stay at the hotel, looking after him. There are parental authorisations but, more so, a responsibility to society.
"The federation's institutional responsibility goes beyond rights, legal requirements, authorisation, parental consents. So there are some inconveniences to being young – although we would all love to take a few years off."
Lamine Yamal has since been nominated for the 2024 Ballon d'Or award, having been named in the 30-man shortlist of contenders on Wednesday.
Speaking on his nomination this week, he told France Football: "For me, the most important thing is to leave a legacy, to have your career.
"In the end, being compared to Leo [Messi] is more important than not looking at it. It is true that if you are compared to the best player in history it is because you are doing things well.
"It doesn't bother me, obviously, but I try to always be myself."
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In LALIGA this season, Lamine Yamal has continued where he left off at EURO 2024, having already provided four assists and one goal in four matches so far for FC Barcelona.