Rabiot aimed a dig at Yamal ahead of Tuesday’s semi-final clash between France and Spain.

Lamine Yamal made Adrien Rabiot eat his pre-match words during Spain’s Euro 2024 semi-final win over France – and it appears he sent a clear message to the French midfielder at full-time.

The 16-year-old forward became the youngest scorer in European Championship history on Tuesday night after he equalised for Luis de la Fuente’s side with a spectacular effort from range.

It has been a memorable summer for Barcelona’s teenage sensation, who also smashed the record for the youngest player to have featured at a Euros after taking to the field against Croatia, aged 16 years and 338 days.

 

But ahead of Tuesday’s game at the Allianz Arena in Munich, France midfielder Adrien Rabiot was far-from-complimentary about his tournament.

“If Lamine Yamal wants to play in the Euro final with Spain, he will have to do much more against us than he has done so far,” Rabiot said in his pre-match press conference. “We will put pressure on him so that he is not comfortable.”

Lamal appeared to respond to Rabiot with a message of his own via Instagram. “Move in silence,” he wrote on his story. “Only speak when it is time to say checkmate.”

 

And hours later, the teenager let his feet do the talking as Spain booked their place in the Euro 2024 final with a 2-1 win over France.

In fact, shortly after the final whistle, the TV cameras rushed over to a delighted Yamal, who appeared to send another message to Rabiot as he celebrated the victory. “Speak now, speak now!” he beamed.

Here’s how fans on social media reacted to Lamal’s post-match actions.

 

One said: “Before Spain vs France, Rabiot said Lamine Yamal needed to doore than he’s done now. After beating France, he said: ‘speak now, speak now’. This is cold.”

Another commented: “This has been the tournament of wonderkids showing they’ve got balls of steel and I am absolute here for it.”

A third wrote: “Rabiot said a 16 year old needed to step up. And he did. He stepped up when his country needed him at 16 years old. 16 years old. Did we say he was 16? 16.”

A fourth added: “Lamal is my player of the tournament.”

Image credit: X/@FabrizioRomano

Ahead of their tournament opener, Spain manager Luis de la Fuente stressed that Yamal must be protected from criticism.

“In the case of young players, the psychological factor is more important than the tactical one,” he said.

“In the case of Lamine, he is a player who is touched by a magic wand, and we have to support him, because he will be praised and criticized fiercely.”

It’s fair to say the youngster has been a standout performer at Euro 2024, and former Spain international Fernando Llorente believes he could go on and outperform Lionel Messi, of all people.

Speaking to Sky Sport Italia, he said: “Not even Messi was at this level at that age. Lamine Yamal does extraordinary things. He can’t be compared to anyone.”