Lamine Yamal, 16, became the youngest goalscorer in tournament history as Spain defeated France 2-1 in Munich on Tuesday to secure a spot in the Euro 2024 final.
After Randal Kolo Muani headed in a Kylian Mbappe cross in the ninth minute, Spain staged a remarkable comeback, scoring twice within four minutes against a team that had conceded just once in their previous five matches.
Yamal, who will turn 17 a day before Sunday's final against either the Netherlands or England in Berlin, equalized with a stunning long-range strike, curling the ball into the top corner beyond an airborne Mike Maignan.
Spain took the lead in the 25th minute when Dani Olmo expertly controlled a loose ball and fired a low shot into the net, aided by a deflection off Jules Kounde.
"I got the ball, didn't think about it for too long and just shot," Yamal said of his brilliant goal. "I'm just enjoying myself and I'm proud to be in the final."
Three-time champions Spain became the first team to win six games at a Euros and are now one match away from a record-breaking fourth title.
"We are one step away from glory," Olmo told ZDF. "We are very, very close. This team is unbelievable. We deserve it."
This weekend's final in Berlin will be Spain's first appearance in a major tournament final since they dominated Italy 4-0 in the Euro 2012 showpiece.
Masters of midfield game management, Spain controlled the match after taking the lead, focusing on maintaining possession rather than counterattacking, ultimately securing the victory.
"They're a very good team, we knew that, they proved it tonight even if we were able to open the scoring," said France coach Didier Deschamps.
"They created difficulties for us as they controlled the game better than us, even if we kept going until the end."
Despite reaching the finals in three of the last four major tournaments, France will face questions about their lack of offensive cohesion despite having an abundance of attacking talent.
Mbappe struggled to make a significant impact, even without the mask he had worn since breaking his nose in France's opening game against Austria. The Real Madrid-bound striker's only goal in nine Euro appearances remains the penalty he scored in the 1-1 group-stage draw with Poland last month.
FRANCE STRIKE EARLY
Heading into the match, France had only scored three goals in Germany, none from open play by a French player. In response, Deschamps benched forward Antoine Griezmann in favor of Ousmane Dembele.
Yamal created the first chance of the match four minutes in, lofting a curling cross to an unmarked Fabian Ruiz, who headed over from close range.
Four minutes later, Mbappe mirrored Yamal's effort with a cross from the left flank, and Kolo Muani's header was on target, giving France the lead.
Despite pre-match concerns about Spain veterans Jesus Navas, 38, and Nacho, 34, who replaced suspended duo Dani Carvajal and Robin Le Normand, it was the younger Aymeric Laporte and Marc Cucurella who were at fault for Kolo Muani's opener.
France's strike initially deflated Spain, but it was the youngest player on the pitch who produced a moment of brilliance to level the score.
Collecting the ball well outside the box, Yamal cut inside, took aim, and unleashed a perfect curling strike into the top left corner.
This goal made Yamal, who already had three assists at Euro 2024, the youngest scorer in the competition's history, beating the previous record by a year and a half.
Yamal's goal, 13 minutes after France's opener, reignited Spain's attack, and La Roja took the lead four minutes later through Olmo.
Olmo acrobatically collected a cleared cross, evaded a defender, and fired goalwards, with his shot deflecting off Kounde before finding the net.
France's best chance to force extra time came with five minutes remaining, but their captain, Mbappe, blasted well over with only goalkeeper Unai Simon to beat.