Lamine Yamal Credits Grandmother Fatima for His Success and Family’s Better Future

MADRID: At just 17 years of age, Spanish football sensation Lamine Yamal says his greatest achievement is not fame or wealth, but seeing his family live a life of dignity and comfort after years of hardship.

The Spain and FC Barcelona star revealed that watching his mother, father, grandmother, and younger brother enjoy a better life gives him the greatest sense of fulfillment, adding that all his hard work feels worthwhile because of their happiness.

In a recent interview, Yamal paid tribute to his grandmother, Fatima, whom he described as the driving force behind the family’s journey. He said she left Morocco alone in search of a better future and eventually settled in the Catalan city of Mataró, Spain, after traveling through different places. Through perseverance and hard work, she later managed to bring her children to Spain, opening new opportunities for the entire family.

According to Yamal, his father had remained in Morocco with his sister during childhood, but his grandmother worked tirelessly to save enough money to reunite the family in Spain. His mother, meanwhile, had migrated from Equatorial Guinea to Spain at a young age. The couple later met in Barcelona, though financial difficulties continued to challenge them for many years.

Recalling his childhood, Yamal said he spent time living in a residential facility that provided accommodation and shared meals for low-income families. At one point, a family friend offered them a single room in his home when they had nowhere else to stay. Despite the hardships, he said his family never gave up hope.

Following his parents’ separation, Yamal moved to another city with his mother, while his father went to live with his own mother. He said those experiences exposed him to life’s realities at an early age and gave him the determination to succeed.

The Barcelona youngster said his greatest joy today is knowing that his mother now has everything she once dreamed of, his father lives peacefully, his grandmother is happy in her own home, and his younger brother is enjoying the carefree childhood that he himself never had.

“For any child, there can be no greater success than this,” he remarked.

Despite his global success, Yamal remains deeply connected to his roots in Rocafonda, the neighborhood where he grew up. His trademark goal celebration pays tribute to the area’s postal code, symbolizing his identity, struggles, and journey. Reports also state that after achieving success, he purchased a house for his grandmother, Fatima, in Rocafonda, while his father now lives in a better residential area in Barcelona.

For Lamine Yamal, the true measure of success lies not in trophies or accolades, but in the sacrifices of his grandmother and the happiness of his family.