SHEILA EBANA, LAMINE YAMAL’S MOTHER, MET KANYE WEST (YE)

Lamine Yamal mom and Kanye (Ye) West took some pictures at Kanye’s concert in Madrid.

LIONEL MESSI REACTS TO ICONIC LAMINE YAMAL PHOTO BEFORE WORLD CUP FINAL:'IT'S CRAZY ..'

Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Lionel Messi has described Lamine Yamal as one of the best players in world football ahead of Sunday’s World Cup final, but the Argentina captain admitted he hopes the Barcelona youngster is kept quiet when the two nations meet with football’s biggest prize at stake.

The meeting between Spain and Argentina has naturally been built around two generations of football’s elite. 

On one side is Messi, preparing for another World Cup final with Argentina. 

On the other is Yamal, whose performances have confirmed his status as one of the brightest talents in the game.

Away from the official press conferences, FIFA organised a special event at the Fan Fest featuring Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, midfielder Rodri, Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni and goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez. 

The biggest attraction, however, was Messi, who also appeared alongside Novak Djokovic, Kevin Durant and Tom Brady for a discussion ahead of the final.

Messi feels Yamal is destined for a special career

Messi has nothing but praise for Lamine Yamal. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Asked about the teenager’s rapid rise, Messi had nothing but admiration for the Barcelona winger, revealing he has followed his progress closely because of his affection for the Catalan club.

“Lamine is a truly great player, whom I’ve followed very closely because he plays for a club I love and for which I always wish the best. 

“At just 19, he’s already one of the world’s leading players. He has his whole career ahead of him and the chance to achieve something historic. 

"We’ll try to make sure it doesn’t happen this time,” said the Barcelona legend.

Messi reflects on iconic Lamine Yamal photo

Messi was also asked about the famous photograph taken nearly two decades ago, showing him holding a baby Yamal during a charity calendar photoshoot.

The image has resurfaced repeatedly in recent months, especially with the pair now preparing to face each other on football’s biggest stage.

Yes, those photos you’ve seen are real.

More than 18 years ago, a baby named Lamine Yamal and his mom Sheila met Lionel Messi at a UNICEF fundraising photoshoot.

Today, their achievements on the pitch inspire millions. Off the pitch, both Messi and Lamine Yamal use their voices and platforms as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassadors to support and advocate for children around the world.

The goal? That every child survives, thrives, and fulfils their potential.

We are proud to have them on our team.

Credit: Joan Monfort

Reflecting on that moment, Messi said, “That photo is crazy. Life… 

“I had my photo taken with him when I was a baby and now we’re set to face each other in a World Cup final. 

“He’s one of the best in the world right now and I wish him the very best of luck because if he does well, so will Barcelona. 

“That said, we’ll try to put in a good performance so he doesn’t play at his best, although that’s difficult.”

While his admiration for Yamal was clear, Messi also reminded everyone that Spain’s strength lies in the collective rather than one individual.

He concluded, “It’s not just Lamine. Spain have some brilliant players and play great football. We’ve got our own weapons too.”

Source: Mundo Deportivo

- Swapnil Bhopatkar

MIKEL MERINO'S GOAL LIFTS SPAIN PAST BELGIUM IN WORLD CUP QUARTERS

Super-sub Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens and Spain won 2-1 over Belgium to advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals on July 11.

"Mikel Merino #6 of Spain celebrates scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA World Cup 2026 quarter-final against Belgium at Los Angeles Stadium. — AFP/VNA Photos"

LOS ANGELES — Super-sub Mikel Merino scored in the 88th minute on a rebound yielded by backup goalkeeper Senne Lammens and Spain won 2-1 over Belgium to advance to the FIFA World Cup 2026 semi-finals on July 11.

It was a Fabian Ruiz goal that gave the European champions the lead on the half-hour mark at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles.

Ruiz benefits from some poor Thibaut Courtois handling and slammed home on the rebound from close range.  

However, shortly Charles De Ketelaere nodded home a cross to bring Belgium level in timely fashion. 

He was the first scorer of the tournament who could find the back of the net of Luis de la Fuente's side. Spain's six-game clean sheet streak was ended in the 41st minute.

Both two sides had opportunities to raise the score in the second half. 

"Lamine Yamal finds himself one-on-one with Courtois in the 48th mark. The keeper came out on top, but the flag was up on the teenager regardless.

Jérémy Doku and De Bruyne made up a lovely one-two with each other before setting Maxim De Cupyer in a perfect place to score. However, the winger lashed into the side netting in the 55th minute.

Six minutes later Yamal's another effort was beaten away by the busy Courtois who previously saved his net from Oyarzabal's attempt."

"Belgium's goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois receives medical treatment."

"A turning point came in the 72nd minute when Courtois went off in tears because of injury. He was replaced by  Lammens who spilled the ball to Merino in the final minutes, allowing the Spaniard to smash home a rebound for a 2-1 win.

It was the second game in a row that Merino came from the bench and scored a late goal. Earlier, the Arsenal midfielder also netted a late winner as a substitute against Portugal four days ago."

"Jeremy Doku of Belgium (centre) competes for the ball against Spanish players during  their quarter-final match."

"He was the first player in the history of the World Cup to score winning goals in separate knockout ties as a substitute but that didn't really cover it. Merino was only given nine minutes plus stoppage time across the two games. It was all he needed.

Spain will next play tournament favourite France in the semi-finals on Tuesday in Dallas.

Other quarter-finals will be held tonight between Norway and England at the Miami Stadium and Argentina and Switzerland at the Kansas City Stadium. — VNS"

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LAMINE YAMAL IS ABSENT FROM BARCELONA'S SQUAD LIST FOR THE CLASICO AGAINST REAL MADRID

Barcelona team (Photo/Archive)

Madrid, Spain – Barcelona’s coaching staff has announced the squad list in preparation for facing Real Madrid this Sunday evening, in the 35th round of the Spanish League.

Barcelona will host their rivals Real Madrid at the Camp Nou, in a highly anticipated match that could play a decisive role in the race for the La Liga title this season.

The Catalan team’s roster witnessed the continued absence of Lamine Yamal, due to the injury he recently suffered, thus continuing his absence from the Blaugrana matches.

Barcelona’s squad list is as follows:

Goalkeepers: Juan Garcia, Wojciech Szczesny, Eder Aller.

Defense: Joao Cancelo, Alejandro Balde, Ronald Araujo, Pau Coparsi, Gerard Martin, Jules Koundé, Eric Garcia, Xavi Espart.

Midfielders: Xavi, Pedri, Firmin Lopez, Marc Casado, Dani Olmo, Frenkie de Jong, Marc Bernal.

Attackers: Ferran Torres, Robert Lewandowski, Rafinha, Marcus Rashford, Rooney Bardji.

- Ahmed Khairy

SPAIN STAR LAMINE YAMAL CONDEMNS 'INTOLERABLE' ANTI-MUSLIM CHANTS IN EGYPT DRAW AS POLICE LAINCH INVESTIGATION

Getty Images Sport

Barcelona star Lamine Yamal has condemned the "intolerable" anti-Muslim chants that marred Spain’s goalless draw with Egypt at the RCDE Stadium. The 18-year-old, who is a practising Muslim, labelled the perpetrators "ignorant" and "racist" after local police launched a formal investigation. 

Police investigation launched

Per ESPN, the Mossos, a local strand of police in Barcelona, have confirmed a probe into "Islamophobic and xenophobic" chanting that occurred during Tuesday’s international friendly. Spectators aimed derogatory songs at the visiting side while also whistling during the Egyptian national anthem and halftime prayers. Although the chants were not specifically directed at Yamal, the teenage winger was deeply affected by the hostile atmosphere, and has taken to social media to vent his disgust.

Yamal issues statement

Taking to Instagram to address the situation, Yamal reaffirmed his faith and expressed his disappointment at the lack of respect shown toward his religion. The Spain star posted: "I am Muslim, Alhamdulillah. Yesterday at the stadium the chant of 'the one who doesn't jump is a Muslim' was heard. I know I was going for the rival team and it wasn't something personal against me, but as a Muslim person it doesn't stop being disrespectful and something intolerable. I understand that not all fanatics are like this, but to those who sing these things: using a religion as a mockery in a field leaves you ignorant and racist people. Football is to be enjoyed and encouraged, not to disrespect people for who they are or what they believe in. With that being said, thank you to the people who came to cheer us on, see you at the World Cup."

Catalonia sports minister speaks out

Catalonia’s sports minister, Berni Alvarez, has echoed Yamal's sentiments, describing the events as a "massive step backwards" for Spanish football while pledging to support the Barcelona forward.

He told reporters: "It's normal that he's affected by what happened. We will try and support him if we can make contact with him. What happened was deplorable. It's an extremely serious issue which we absolutely condemn. It's a massive step backwards. The sensation is everything had been planned. Those chanting came to the game to spout hate speech. I doubt many of those involved had any connection to the world of sport. The reaction arrived late and was not sufficient."

Espanyol unhappy with 'smear campaign'

Meanwhile, Barca's La Liga rivals Espanyol, who play their home games at the RCDE Stadium, have issued their own statement condemning the scenes in Tuesday's game, but have also insisted that no blame should be attributed to their fanbase.

"RCD Espanyol also wish to express our deep displeasure at the gratuitous and widespread smear campaign that has been targeted against our fans in the past few hours," the statement read. "It is worth remembering that the match, organised by the RFEF, brought together supporters of the Spain national team from very diverse geographical and footballing backgrounds. Therefore, it is profoundly unfair, excessive, and disproportionate to attribute these behaviours to the RCDE Espanyol fanbase, which, throughout its more than 125-year history, has been characterised by its diversity, respect, and commitment to the values ​​of sport.

"The club do not and will not accept having their reputation called into question by the isolated actions of a small group of people who represent neither the club nor our fanbase. RCD Espanyol emphasise our firm commitment to the fight against all forms of discrimination, and will continue working to ensure that the RCDE Stadium remains a safe, inclusive, and respectful place for everyone."

Potential FIFA sanctions

A source has told ESPN that Spain could face potential FIFA sanctions, which could overshadow their 2026 World Cup campaign as they prepare to compete in Group H alongside Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia, and Uruguay. The RFEF must now address these issues while prioritising Yamal’s welfare before the squad travels to North America for their opening fixtures.

- Adhe Makayasa

LAMINE YAMAL PENALTY RESCUES BARCELONA FROM DEFEAT AT NEWCASTLE

Lamine Yamal's penalty with the last kick of the game rescued Barcelona from defeat at Newcastle in a 1-1 Champions League last 16, first leg draw on Tuesday.

AFP

Lamine Yamal's penalty with the last kick of the game rescued Barcelona from defeat at Newcastle in a 1-1 Champions League last 16, first leg draw on Tuesday. The Magpies were headed for a night to savour at St. James' Park when Harvey Barnes opened the scoring on 86 minutes. Yamal had been a peripheral figure but showed the composure of one of the world's best players from the spot after Dani Olmo was tripped by Malick Thiaw deep into stoppage time.

The Liga champions still have work to do when the sides meet again on March 18, but will leave Tyneside relieved after a sub-par performance from Hansi Flick's side.

Newcastle's bid to make the quarter-finals for the first time was dealt a blow before kick-off when Anthony Gordon was forced to start on the bench due to illness.

Only Kylian Mbappe has scored more than Gordon's 10 Champions League goals this season and the England international's threat was badly missed as Newcastle a[pplied early pressure.

Eddie Howe had billed this game as the biggest in the club's history and the desire to make amends for a FA Cup exit to Manchester City and a dissapointing Premier League season showed.

Howe made a bold choice with Gordon's replacement as William Osula came in at the expense of club record signing Nick Woltemade and Yoane Wissa up front.

Osula's pace troubled Barca's high defensive line early on, but Newcastle's best attempt to break the deadlock before half-time came from a corner.

Joan Garcia spilled his attempt to save Sandro Tonali's header and needed to be rescued by a goal-line clearance from Pau Cubarsi.

The home side continued to press for a breakthrough in the second period.

Anthony Elanga should have picked out Barnes for a simple finish when his low cross was cut out by Garcia.

It took nearly 70 minutes for the visitors to create a clear sight of goal when Robert Lewandowski prodded wide from Raphinha's cross.

That was Lewandowski's final act as he was replaced by Marcus Rashford, who scored twice when the sides met at St. James' Park in the League Phase.

Howe also turned to his bench in search of a winner with Gordon among those introduced.

The offside flag came to Barca's aid when Joelinton thought he had opened the scoring after Barnes struck the post.

The visitors' desire just to see the game out at 0-0 was evidenced when Ronald Araujo tried to hold up play by rolling back on the field after going down injured.

Italian referee Marco Guida refused to let the Uruguayan defender immediately back onto the field and Newcastle took full advantage as Barnes was unmarked at the back post, where Araujo should have been, to convert Jacob Murphy's cross.

Much of Newcastle's fine work was undone by one mistake as Thiaw flicked out a leg to bring down the jinking Olmo inside the box.

Yamal coolly sent Aaron Ramsdale the wrong way to leave Newcastle needing heroics in the Camp Nou next week to reach the last eight.

- Agence-France Presse

LAMINE YAMAL SENDS EPIC MESSAGE TO BARCELONA FANS AHEAD OF COPA DEL REY TIE AGAINST ATLÉTICO

BARCELONA, SPAIN - FEBRUARY 28: Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the LaLiga EA Sports match between FC Barcelona and Villarreal CF at Spotify Camp Nou on February 28, 2026 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Alex Caparros/Getty Images) Getty Images

Lamine Yamal is feeling good and already looking forward to facing Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey in midweek after scoring his first Barcelona hat-trick against Villarreal.

Barcelona head into the second leg of their semi-final tie at Camp Nou already 4-0 down and with a mountain to climb. However, Yamal is simply refusing to give up hope. He took to social media after the game with a post that reads: “1% chance, 99% faith.”

Yamal also had a few words about the match afterwards, telling the media: “It was time to react and push. We are doing it. Now let me tell our fans… …come to the stadium against Atléti, the magic can happen.”

Eric Garcia is backing Yamal to deliver the goods against Atletico. He shared his thoughts afterwards saying, “We are lucky that he plays for our team, Lamine’s performance has been incredible, he could even have saved one or two goals for Tuesday.”

Let’s hope he has saved a few goals for Tuesday night as Barca face a huge task trying to turn the tie around.

- Barca Blaugranes

RANKING ALL GOALS BY LAMINE YAMAL

 

LAMINE YAMAL TAKES ANOTHER RECORD OFF KYLIAN MBAPPÉ WITH CHAMPIONS LEGUE GOAL FOR BARCELONA VS COPENHAGEN

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Barcelona wonderkid Lamine Yamal added a few more records to his collection on Wednesday night after scoring and assisting in the Champions League win over Copenhagen.

Yamal’s goal means he’s now the youngest player to reach eight goals in the Champions League at the age of 18 years and 199 days, beating the record previously held by Mbappe (18 years and 302 days), per Mister Chip.

It’s not the first time Yamal has taken a record off Mbappe. The Barca youngster became the youngest player to score in a Champions League semi-final at the age of 17 years and 291 days last season.

Yamal’s efforts against Copenhagen also mean he has now scored and assisted in a Champions League game for the third time. That’s a record he now shares with Mbappe - for now at least.

Yamal now has 13 goals and 13 assists in 28 appearances in all competitions so far this season for Hansi Flick’s side.

His performance on Wednesday night was also key as Barcelona managed to secure a top eight finish in the Champions League and automatic qualification to the last 16 of the competition.

- Gill Clark

BARCELONA TRANSFER NEWS: BARCA ARE 'MONITORING' THE FULL-BACK WHO 'STOPPED' YAMAL DURING THE DERBY

© Iconsport

Espanyol youngster was one of the most talked-about points by Barca after the final whistle.

Barcelona's victory over Espanyol last Saturday (3rd) was far from celebrated with euphoria. In the dressing room, the tone was more one of relief than celebration. The difficulty of the triumph was a recurring topic — and, according to AS, amid the internal analysis, the name of an opposition player stood out with admiration: Carlos Romero.

Romero keeps Yamal quiet in impressive derby display

© Imago / Pressinphoto

The 24-year-old left-back, on loan from Villarreal until the end of the season, delivered a top-level performance in the derby. Tasked with marking Lamine Yamal, Romero fulfilled his mission with impressive discipline: he went the full 90 minutes without committing a single foul and managed to hold his own in individual duels against one of the most devastating players in world football.

There was cover at times, it is true, but his one-on-one performance was solid from start to finish. And, beyond his defensive consistency, Romero was also a constant threat when he pushed forward in attack.

Down his flank, Barcelona suffered. One of his crosses found Pere Milla's head, forcing Joan Garcia to make a superb save. In the second half, the left-back almost got on the scoresheet with a right-footed finish inside the box — again denied by the opposition goalkeeper.

Manolo Gonzalez, Espanyol's manager, was fully aware of Romero's potential impact in the derby and exploited this asset relentlessly. It was no coincidence that the left-back finished the match as the home side's player with the most involvements, totalling 54 actions. He recovered five balls — behind only Urko Gonzalez — and won half of his defensive duels, figures that underline his constant presence on both sides of the pitch.

Carlos Romero interests Barcelona

The display in the Catalan derby merely confirmed a run of form that has been attracting attention for months. Carlos Romero has shown defensive maturity while also posing a regular attacking threat. Recently, he had already made his mark with a stunning goal against Athletic Bilbao.

This growth puts Villarreal in front of an important decision next summer. With a contract valid until 2029 and competition for the position — names like Sergi Cardona and Alfonso Pedraza are already part of the squad — the club will need to decide the Valencian full-back's future. Meanwhile, Romero continues to offer Espanyol consistent arguments to be kept as a key player.

His performances have not gone unnoticed, even by rivals. As mentioned, his display in the derby impressed the Barcelona dressing room and put the player's name on the Catalan club's radar, even with the left-back position theoretically well covered. However, any move faces a significant obstacle: the release clause set at €45m (£39.5m), a figure that turns admiration into caution.

This article was originally published on Trivela.

- Axel Clody

LAMINE YAMAL: 60 MINUTES INTERVIEW

 

FC BARCELONA NEWS: 14 DECEMBER 2025; BARÇA BEAT OSASUNA TO WIN SEVENTH LA LIGA GAME IN A ROW

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FC Barcelona 2-0 Osasuna: Raphinha to the rescue! - FC Barcelona

FC Barcelona will be spending the night seven points clear at the top of the Liga table after securing all three points from a difficult Saturday fixture against the defensively strong Osasuna.

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All the action from the La Liga contest at Spotify Camp Nou.

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FC Barcelona secured another victory in LaLiga after defeating Osasuna and coach Hansi Flick praised his team’s control of the game and defensive work. “We controlled the match. We did a good job defensively. Maybe we didn’t have many chances, but we scored two goals and got the three points,” explained the Barça coach.

FC Barcelona equal second longest La Liga goalscoring run - FC Barcelona

Hansi Flick’s Barça have matched a historic milestone. Saturday’s 2-0 defeat of Osasuna has extended their run of game in which they have scored at least one goal to 37, with Raphinha coming to rescue this time by finally breaking the deadlock after the visitors has held out for almost 70 minutes. The run now stands as the second-best in Barça history, level with the streak achieved between 2018 and 2019 under Ernesto Valverde.

Lamine Yamal shows off Player of the Month trophy - FC Barcelona

Lamine Yamal showed off his latest individual award on Saturday before Barça’s win over Osasuna, parading with the La Liga Player of the Month award for November.

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There are still two matches left to round off 2025, one in the Champions League and one in the Copa de la Reina, but this Saturday Barça Femení brought their Liga F schedule for the year to a close with a win in Palamós, where Badalona Women play their home games. The home side held their own in the first half but ultimately surrendered the points as Pajor, Pina, Carla Julià, Vicky and Brugts scored the goals.

- Renato Gonçalves

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LAMINE YAMAL'S GIRLFRIEND NICKI NICOLE SHARES JOKES WITH RAPHINHA & DANI OLMO AS TRIO WATCH BARCELONA THRASH OLYMPIACOS

Barcelona smashed Olympiacos 6-1 in the Champions League on Tuesday night at Montjuic and were cheered on by Lamine Yamal's girlfriend Nicki Nicole. The Argentine rapper was spotted in the stands and sharing jokes with Yamal's team-mates Raphinha and Dani Olmo, who missed the game due to injury. Yamal scored a penalty and grabbed an assist on a good night for Hansi Flick's side.

Nicole watches on as Barca run riot

Barcelona were in great goalscoring form on Tuesday as they hit Olympiacos for six. Fermin Lopez bagged a hat-trick and took home the match ball, Yamal was on target from the penalty spot and Manchester United loanee Marcus Rashford grabbed a brace in an emphatic win. Olympiacos had been in the game at 2-1, but saw Santiago Hezze harshly sent off, and then were left further enraged when Barca were awarded a penalty after a VAR review when Rashford went to ground in the area.

Yamal coolly slotted home the resulting spot kick to thrill fans in the stands and Barca went on to win with ease. Girlfriend Nicole was also spotted having a great time as she smiled and joked with Raphinha and Olmo during the match. The duo were watching from the stands after being ruled out of the game through injury along with Joan Garcia, Gavi, Robert Lewandowski and Marc-Andre ter Stegen.

Getty Images Sport

Yamal makes more history at Barcelona

Yamal celebrated scoring by blowing a kiss up to the stands as he netted his fifth goal of the season in all competitions for Barcelona. The teenager also made more history during the game as he became the youngest player to reach 25 appearances in Champions League history at the tender age of just 18 years and 100 days. 

Manager Hansi Flick was happy to see his team return to winning ways in the competition after defeat to defending champions Paris Saint-Germain last time out. He told reporters after the victory: "The first thing is that we won today, which was the important thing, and this should give us confidence for that match. It's a tremendous game. We don't have time to waste. We're going to bounce back. Every game gives you confidence. We won last season, but that's in the past. We're in a different situation, but I'm optimistic because of last season and because I see ourselves capable. Maybe we'll get some players back. We'll see; we have time to rest and prepare for the match."

Flick not worried about Yamal's private life

Yamal's love life has been making headlines this season amid his burgeoning romance with Nicole. The rapper has said she's "very much in love" with Barcelona's brilliant 18-year-old and the duo have been offering fans regular glimpses of their time together on social media, most recently sharing a helicopter ride together during the international break.

There has been speculation that there is tension at Barcelona about Yamal's private life, something Hansi Flick was quick to shoot down at a pre-match press conference ahead of his team's win over Girona last time out in La Liga.

"For me, what counts is that when he's here, he puts in the effort and commitment. And that's what he does. He had a few days off after working hard, and I don't interfere in his private life," he told reporters.

Flick also denied vehemently denied suggestions he had wanted to drop Yamal against PSG, after he was late for a meeting, but was blocked from doing so by sporting director Deco. He explained: "I'd like to know where this comes from; this is garbage. I'm especially grateful that this club, and Deco in particular, believes in our work. They would never ask us to do this. It's not true; I have nothing to hide. It's garbage, and if anyone says it, they're lying."

- Gill Clark

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