Teenage phenom Lamine Yamal is seen, by many, as the natural heir to Lionel Messi's throne at Barcelona given his stratospheric rise to fame. He's quickly becoming the face of the beautiful game – and his new celebration, inspired by sporting legend LeBron James, has caused quite a stir in Spanish football circles.
It wasn't long ago that he was just like any other young player mastering their craft in the La Masia academy. That was until he got the nod to the senior side; neither party have looked back since. As of today, he's notched 27 goals and 37 assists in 109 games.
On the international stage, too, the young and hungry winger has become a key part of Luis de la Fuente's side, especially during their triumphant Euro 2024 campaign last summer. As is the trajectory of his hike in popularity, Yamal's latest celebration has ruffled quite a few feathers – but why is that?
Lamine Yamal's New, LeBron James-Inspired Celebration Causes a Stir in Spain
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In the past, every time a goalkeeper – typically those in Spain's top flight – found themselves picking the ball out of the net after Yamal had lashed another goal home, fans had become accustomed to seeing him perform the '304 celebration', which is a nod to the postal code for Rocafonda, where he spent his infant years.
A touching gesture, of course, but that has since changed. Every time Yamal – widely regarded as one of the best players in world football – adds another goal to his tally, he stands in front of the camera before simulating putting a crown on his own head.
It's a celebration that pays homage to one of his sporting inspirations, four-time NBA champion LeBron James, who performs the same action when he scores a point in basketball. LeBron, coincidentally, has become the face of the NBA over the past two decades.
Yamal is following in the same footsteps as the 40-year-old, who was also touted as the next best thing before his NBA debut. Mimicking his celebration could be the start of a generational partnership between two of the biggest stars in the world of sport.
Not everybody is best pleased with the new celebration after hitting the back of the net. According to The Athletic, traditional tabloid Spanish print believe that Yamal, 18, is getting too big for boots rather than conforming to the sort of behaviour they deem 'appropriate'.
Sources close to the player, per the report, is under the assumption that he will, expectedly, receive plenty of attention from the media. Though, despite the occasional onslaught for nonsensical reasons, he is said to be unbothered by it all.
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As a means of protecting him, Spain boss De la Fuente spoke about his celebration in a press conference previewing La Roja's two World Cup qualifiers against Bulgaria and Turkey, which they won 3-0 and 6-0, respectively. Feeling the need to defend the Barcelona wide man, he said:
"To me, the celebration was not crowning himself. It looked like he was putting on a magician's hat. I told myself while watching the TV: 'Well, the kid has done another magic trick'. That's how I understood it."
Last week, De la Fuente jumped to the teenager's defence again. "We tend to highlight the more shallow aspects about athletes, and what we should be highlighting to the next generation is how this kid (Lamine Yamal), who made his [Spain] debut at 16 years old, works like nobody else," he said.