Long before Lamine Yamal made headlines as FC Barcelona’s next big thing, he was just a wide-eyed kid with a dream.
Yamal was just six months old when photographer Joan Monfort took a picture of him with Lionel Messi.
The picture was taken in December 2007 but it reappeared in 2024, 16 years later, where Messi was seen bathing Yamal in a plastic tub with bubbles and a rubber duck.
Fast forward to 2025, Yamal is now said to be the next Messi. He has extended his contract with Barcelona with €1 billion until 2031.
Yamal, who is rated as the best player in the world by many pundits, waited for his grandmother for the Barcelona signing photos.
He even credited his paternal grandmother, Fatima, for his success, as she kept his feet on the ground after his parents got separated.
Yamal was just three years old when his mom and dad parted ways. However, it wasn’t possible for Yamal to rise so quickly in football without the support of his parents and family.
Who Are the Parents of Yamal?
Lamine Yamal’s father is Mounir Nasraoui, and his mother is Sheila Ebana. His parents met in Spain after they emigrated from Morocco and Equatorial Guinea.
He has a multiracial heritage as his dad is from Larache, Morocco, and his mom is from Bata, Equatorial Guinea.
When Lamine Yamal's parents separated, his life was split between two cities- Granollers and Mataró, specifically in the Rocafonda neighborhood.
Yamal’s mother lived in Granollers while his father lived in the Rocafondaneighborhood. Yamal played football at the local club La Torreta when he stayed in Granollers, but Rocafonda holds a special place in his heart.

You might have seen Yamal celebrating his goals by forming the number 304 with his fingers. It represents the last digits of Rocafonda’s postal code, 08304.
Yamal’s parents were actively involved in his upbringing even after their separation.
As for Yamal’s mother’s job, she worked as a waitress when she moved to Spain. Similarly, his dad worked as a building painter.
Yamal’s father, Mounir, loves football and also played the sport in the past. However, he couldn’t make it a professional career but did many odd jobs to make ends meet.
If you are wondering about Lamine Yamal’s mother’s age, she is 39 years old. Sheila was just 21 years old when she gave birth to Lamine in 2007.
Talking about Lamine Yamal’s father’s age, he is 36 years old in 2025.
Yamal’s parents are very proud of their son’s achievement and are often seen showing their support to Yamal in his games.
Mounir even told The Telegraph in 2024 that he is proud of his son.
Yamal’s parents were married for some time. Following their divorce, his mom got married again to a Cameroonian man.
He now has a younger step-brother who is also seen with him on the ground after the game.
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