Get free access to the most comprehensive World Cup coverage in The Athletic app.At his first major international tournament, Lamine Yamal was a 16-year-old schoolboy who had to finish his homework in between matches as Spain were crowned European champions.Yamal, who turned 17 the day before the Euro 2024 final victory over England, was studying for his ESO exams, a Spanish educational equivalent to GCSEs in the United Kingdom or a United States high-school diploma.He had just finished his first senior campaign with Barcelona, with whom he made his debut aged 15 in April 2023, and that summer, he shone even brighter on the bigger stage — scoring a spectacular goal against France in the semi-finals and being voted young player of the tournament.Two years on, he still has his cheeky smile and he still wears braces, but his profile has changed. Now, he is an international celebrity.Yamal has starred in several commercial campaigns in the build-up to the World Cup, sharing the limelight of Adidas’ big promotional play alongside actor Timothee Chalamet, Argentina icon Lionel Messi, rapper Bad Bunny and Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham.Last Thursday, he was announced as UNICEF’s newest goodwill ambassador, following in the footsteps of Messi and David Beckham.The boy from Rocafonda — an underprivileged neighbourhood of Mataro, the small coastal Catalan town where Yamal grew up — now inhabits an altogether different plane of superstardom. And he is making it his own.At Euro 2024, Yamal turned up with a backpack full of schoolwork. When joining up with his Spain team-mates in late May, he arrived in a Chanel outfit that was picked out by his private fashion stylist. From the handles of his matching handbag hung an exclusive set of pink Beats headphones that are not yet available to purchase.Under an Instagram post shared with his 43.3million followers, Spanish pop star Rosalia (28m followers) was among those appreciating his look, writing: “Estilazo (incredible style).”This is the new Yamal. He is the best at Barcelona, the best with Spain. For many, he is the most exciting player at this entire World Cup — the game’s biggest stage of all.