Barcelona forward Lamine Yamal has been in the spotlight this week. The 18-year-old celebrated his first goal of the season against Mallorca by pretending to place a crown on his head. The gesture came after rounding off Barcelona’s 3-0 win in their La Liga opener. Some rival fans felt the celebration showed arrogance. Others linked it to the fact that Yamal now wears the famous number 10 shirt.
Sharing a pitcture of the Celebration of Instagram, Yamal himself wrote,
“The party of the 10.”
Barcelona manager Hansi Flick was quick to defend his young player. Speaking at his press conference ahead of the Levante clash, he said:
“I don’t care what other people say about my team. Lamine (Yamal) is only 18 years old but he’s a fantastic footballer. I will help him to grow in the right way. But (from) what I can see here, his behaviour is very good.”
Flick stressed that he has seen nothing but professionalism from the teenager. Previously, he praised Yamal after he scored a goal in Barcelona’s 3-0 season opener win against Mallorca.
“As I’ve said before, he always wants to play well and help the team,” Flick said about Yamal. “Lamine is a special player and everyone can see it. From what I see in training, he is very motivated. In matches, he also fights and defends. I’m very happy for him.”
The crown celebration was not the only reason Yamal has faced criticism recently. Last month, reports linked his 18th birthday party to the hiring of people with dwarfism as entertainment. A Spanish disability rights group threatened legal action, adding further attention around the youngster. Flick, however, said outside noise does not concern him.
For Yamal, the message was clear. Flick wants to protect his young star, help him grow, and keep him focused on football. Rival fans may question the crown celebration, but his coach has full faith in his maturity. At just 18, Yamal has already become one of Barcelona’s most watched players. His progress will be important as the club pushes for titles this season.
Lamine Yamal’s 2025-26 La Liga stats so far: 1 match, 1 goal, 1 assist, 9 shots.
Also read: Marcus Rashford makes strong case for Lamine Yamal’s Ballon d’Or
Kounde backs Lamine Yamal as leading Ballon d’Or contender
Barcelona defender Jules Kounde has backed teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to win the 2025 Ballon d’Or, even ahead of his France teammate and former Barca star Ousmane Dembele.
France Football recently announced the nominees for this year’s award, with Barcelona boasting a strong list including Pedri, Raphinha, Robert Lewandowski, and Yamal, who is also on the Kopa Trophy shortlist. The 18-year-old winger has emerged as the Catalan club’s brightest hope for individual recognition after a stunning 2024/25 campaign.
Yamal was pivotal as Barcelona, under new coach Hansi Flick, swept to a domestic treble — lifting La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Supercup. He finished the season with 18 goals and 21 assists, showcasing a level of maturity beyond his age. However, Barca fell short in Europe, exiting in the Champions League semi-finals to Dembele’s Paris Saint-Germain, who went on to lift the trophy for the first time in their history.
That set up a fascinating head-to-head between the two wide men in the Ballon d’Or race. Dembele hit 33 goals and 13 assists across the season, spearheading PSG’s historic treble, but Kounde believes Yamal’s all-round influence should not be overlooked.
“You put me in a delicate situation, because there is also Dembele in the running,” Kounde admitted to Le10Sport. “But, what I would say is that I think Lamine Yamal deserves it. I have a very good relationship with him. He’s a team player, he works a lot for the team. He needs energy to attack, and I understand him perfectly.”
Kounde, who this week signed a new contract with Barcelona until 2030, also outlined the team’s ambitions for the season ahead.
“Every time we start the season, we set goals, and when you’re at Barca, and with the team we have and the season we had last year, the Champions League should be the goal, but it’s not an obsession,” he explained.
Yamal, meanwhile, has already started the 2025/26 season in style, scoring a spectacular goal in Barcelona’s 3-0 opening win over Mallorca. With the Ballon d’Or ceremony set for September 22, the teenager’s name continues to dominate conversations around world football.
You can see the highlight of the Mallorca game below:
Whether or not he takes home the prize, Yamal has already cemented himself as one of Barcelona’s most important players — and, at just 18, his ceiling appears limitless.