Lamine Yamal’s Boot Flags Spark Debate in Spain

Spain star Lamine Yamal drew attention after scoring within 10 minutes in his team’s 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia on Sunday, but the bigger reaction in Spain and Israel came from a detail on his boots: the flags of Morocco and Equatorial Guinea.

According to the report, Yamal also wore those same flags in Spain’s opening match against Cape Verde and at the previous European Championship, treating them as a kind of personal good-luck charm. The flags are a custom addition, not part of the standard boots sold in stores.

The choice also prompted criticism in Spain. Some fans and commentators argued that putting the flags of other countries on the boots of a national-team player was disrespectful. “He does not feel Spanish,” one criticism said. “There is no other explanation. It is not respectful to the national team.”

At the Euro, Yamal reportedly wore Spain’s flag together with the flags of Morocco and Equatorial Guinea. The article links the discussion to the 2026 World Cup cycle, while noting that the issue became a social media flashpoint after the match.