Barcelona superstar’s childhood friend backs him to become the best in the world: ‘Since he was six’

Barcelona's young football sensation Lamine Yamal has already accomplished more than many players achieve throughout their entire careers. His childhood friend, Sohaib, believes the 19-year-old has the potential to become the best in the world. The two have been close friends since they met as children in their hometown of Rocafonda.

Sohaib revealed on Spanish television show TardeAR that Lamine's football abilities were evident even as a six-year-old. "Since he was six years old, he played football and you could already see what he had," Sohaib stated. He assured Lamine that if he wanted to, he could become the best in the world, but it would be his choice.

Despite his remarkable talent, Lamine has managed to maintain his humble beginnings and keep a low profile. Sohaib noted that Lamine remains the same person his family has always instilled in him. "He talks about what he talked about before, he’s the same as always, nothing has changed and this is what his family has instilled in him," Sohaib explained. The friend praised Lamine's friendship and humility, stating that he is like a brother to him, and his character has remained unchanged despite the sudden fame.

An interesting tidbit about Lamine's personality came from Sohaib's revelation of the origin of his famous 304 celebration. The celebration references the final three digits of Rocafonda's postcode, 08304. During a youth Copa del Rey match, Lamine wanted to make a statement and decided to incorporate the number 304 into his celebration. Sohaib suggested the number, and Lamine kept using it, finding it looked good on him.